John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

PVL AFC 25 Awarding - Akari Chargers (bronze)-0108

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744708491007PVL AFC 25 Awarding - Akari Chargers (bronze)-0108.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Akari Chargers are the bronze medalists of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference. <em>PVL Media Bureau</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – Fueled by the criticisms of their campaign in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, the Akari Chargers proved that they are now a contender in the Premier Volleyball League with a breakthrough bronze medal in the 2024-25 All-Filipino tournament.</p><p>The Chargers had reached the finals of last season&#x27;s import-laced competition, but much of the credit for their success was given to their prolific American reinforcement, Oly Okaro.</p><p>Even coach Taka Minowa acknowledged that there were talks about this.</p><p>&quot;In the last conference, people were saying, &#x27;Oh, we have Oly that’s why we went to the championship [series],&#x27;&quot; said Minowa.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/4/12/pvl-akari-sweeps-choco-mucho-in-game-3-to-claim-all-filipino-bronze-1700"><strong>READ: PVL: Akari sweeps Choco Mucho in Game 3 to claim bronze, its best finish in All-Filipino tourney<br/></strong></a></div><p>This time around, their All-Filipino roster left a mark, putting the league on notice that even with themselves, the Chargers could reach the podium.</p><p>The Mich Cobb-captained squad completed a 2-1 series triumph over Choco Mucho in the bronze medal match, stealing the spotlight following a straight-set 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 triumph on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.</p><p>Minowa shared that his initial goal this conference was a humble top six finish.</p><p>&quot;Before the start of this conference, my target is to finish top six. Then after that, we’ll see if we go to the quarterfinals then the semifinals,&quot; the Akari mentor said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/4/11/pvl-sisi-rondina-s-extensive-efforts-with-team-statistician-pay-off-1730"><strong>READ: PVL: Choco Mucho&#x27;s Sisi Rondina&#x27;s extensive efforts with team statistician pay off<br/></strong></a></div><p>But they defied the odds and the critics, securing the bronze. Minowa said it was a &quot;totally good conference.&quot;</p><p>&quot;My project is we need to improve the other players on this team and get inspiration from the stronger teams. There’s a lot of things we can learn from that. It was a totally good conference,&quot; Minowa said.</p><p>Star spiker Ivy Lacsina bared that they had internal fights even throughout the competition.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre, para sa amin sobrang laking achievement sa team namin kasi &#x27;yun nga po, parang last year andiyan si Oly, ta&#x27;s ngayon kailangan namin magdoble trabaho talaga,&quot; the star spiker said.</p><p>&quot;Sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi grabe &#x27;yung mga pag-aaway namin; lahat ng iyak, dugo binuhos namin dito ngayon. Sobrang masaya kami sa naging result,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><p>—<strong>WHAT&#x27;S NEXT FOR AKARI? THE GOLD, PERHAPS— </strong></p><p>After silver and bronze medal exploits in back-to-back conferences, the Chargers hope to snag the coveted one — the gold.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre, talagang non-stop na trabaho kasi goal po namin ngayon is mag-podium, pero siyempre &#x27;yung pinakagusto talaga namin is mag-gold. So wala po talagang titigil sa amin, pahinga lang po ang konti and back to the drawing board po,&quot; said Lacsina.</p><p>&quot;Same din kay Ivy. Siguro kailangan namin mapulido pa &#x27;yung connection namin, especially sa setters and sa middles namin and &#x27;yung maliliit na errors, &#x27;yun &#x27;yung kailangan namin i-polish para mas maging ready kami &#x27;pag napunta kami sa championship [series],&quot; said Eli Soyud, who also had an impressive run throughout the competition.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vj3vuBmvz0A??si=wOViQh6SF01UnKXv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>This time around, their All-Filipino roster left a mark, putting the league on notice that even with themselves, the Akari Chargers could reach the podium. #PVL2025</p>

This time around, their All-Filipino roster left a mark, putting the league on notice that even with themselves, the Akari Chargers could reach the podium. #PVL2025

'Dahil lang kay Oly?' Akari silences critics with All-Filipino bronze

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'Dahil lang kay Oly?' Akari silences critics with All-Filipino bronze

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 15, 2025 06:38 PM PHT

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Premier Volleyball League

PVL All-Filipino Conference

Akari Chargers

Ivy Lacsina

Taka Minowa

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