An 8-0 record won’t mean a thing without a ring for the Akari Chargers as they make their first-ever PVL playoff appearance.
The Akari Chargers on Tuesday completed their sweep of the PVL Reinforced Conference elimination rounds after beating the Farm Fresh Foxies in straight sets. It’s a remarkable feat as they enter the playoffs with a franchise-best record eight wins.
But they know that the job is far from finished. After all, the sweep only guaranteed Akari’s playoff appearance, and not the Reinforced Conference title.
As playoff debutants, the Chargers still lack experience, with only Gretchel Soltones and Celine Domingo having playoff runs with their previous teams.
“8-0, parang part lang siya ng process. Parang di siya ‘yung, ‘yun na yon. Sabi ko nga sa teammates ko every huddle, parang ito ‘yung magdadala satin kung san tayo gusto pumunta. Pero kahit na nag 8-0 tayo ngayon, walang kasiguraduhan,” said Soltones, one of Akari’s veteran pickups in the offseason.
“So in every game, sabi ko sa kanila, mindset na mag enjoy sa game and also bumawi agad.”
As the Akari lifer, captain Michelle Cobb is proud of the Chargers’ perfect run. The job’s not finished, but it’s also hard to overlook the fine form they’ve exhibited so far, she said.
Being a young team, this also gives them much-needed confidence.
“Kailangan namin ‘yung confidence and ‘yung groove to get into the quarters since we’re also possibly gonna face them too [Farm Fresh]. So parang pinrepare namin na walang gawin bearing masyado and focus on the quarters,” said Cobb as Akari awaits the final 8th seeded team.
Staying charged up
It took a village to get to this point of the season, according to Cobb. So with the playoffs looming, the Chargers will have each other to lean on in unfamiliar territory.
“Pag may nawala, may susulpot na isa na magsstep up. Sobrang ‘yun ‘yung naging key namin. With the leadership of the coaches, sobrang tulong tulong kami, sobrang ganda lang sa feeling na ganito ‘yung nabubuo naming team,” said Cobb.
It’ll also be a matter of maintaining the form and hunger they exhibited throughout the preliminaries. What they lack in experience will be compensated with these intangibles.
“Dito na kami eh. Pinaghirapan namin ito. Parang feel ko ngayon, mayroon kaming mindset na there’s no turning back. Like, what is the point of turning back? We expect na lang din, like how we prepared to this game, we will step it up a notch with the quarters,” the team captain added.
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.