With Kamille Cal’s availability for the rest of the conference still uncertain, Akari turned to second-stringer Bea Bonafe for her first-ever start in a high-stakes showdown against Petro Gazz on Tuesday.
And the 23-year-old setter made the most of the opportunity, rising to the occasion and helping steer the Chargers to a hard-fought 32-30, 25-22, 25-19 win over the Angels in the 2025 PVL On Tour at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Bonafe finished with 14 excellent sets, orchestrating a balanced offensive attack for Akari that kept Petro Gazz scrambling for answers all game long.
“It feels like I won a championship,” said Bonafe, who certainly knows the feeling — having won four titles, including a historic grand slam, during her stint with Creamline.
“Ganun ‘yung feeling. Sobrang saya po, and I couldn’t have done it without coach and my ates, because they all believed in me,” she added.
(C) PVL Images
Akari head coach Tina Salak, who coached Bonafe back in her high school days, said she had long seen potential in the former middle blocker-turned-setter — it was just a matter of unlocking it.
Now reunited at Akari, Salak is thankful to continue what they started during their time at De La Salle-Zobel, where they won the UAAP Season 81 girls’ volleyball title.
“Ako, sabi ko kasi sa kanya, parang nasa shadow siya — nasa shadow siya ng ibang tao,” said Salak. “So when she came to Akari, inunlock ko ’yon. Sinabi ko, ‘You have to be yourself. Huwag mo lang i-imitate ‘yung taong gusto mo. Hindi mo makikita ‘yung best mo kung ang iniisip mo, ibang tao ‘yung ginagampanan mo.’
“So ‘yun ‘yung sinabi ko sa kanya: ibahin niya lahat. Lahat ng ideas niya, lahat ng forms niya, techniques niya — ibahin niya. Para at least makita mo kung sino talaga si Bea. ‘Yun ‘yung una-unang sinabi ko sa kanya,” she added.
But it wasn’t just potential that brought Bonafe to this moment. Salak also praised her protégé’s work ethic and hunger to improve — traits that helped her rise to the occasion when her team needed her most.
“Masyado siyang determined. Sobrang seryoso niya. Maaga siya lagi sa training. Makikita mo ‘yung mga little efforts na gusto talaga niyang gawin ‘to para sa team. Gusto niyang gawin para sa sarili,” said Salak.
“Ewan ko kung may gusto siyang patunayan pero may mayayabang kasi ‘to eh,” Salak added in jest.
“So may mga gano’n kaming challenge sa training. Good jokes lang ‘yon. Marami pa siyang mararating. At malayo pa ‘yung kanya. ‘Yung expectations kasi nandiyan, Bea. But sa ngayon, sa nangyari, ang laki ng potential na nakita ko para sa kanya.”
Bonafe, for her part, reflected on how far she’s come and expressed her gratitude for having Salak by her side — someone who never stopped believing in her and continues to guide her to this day.
(C) PVL Images
“It was very big. A very — it’s a leap. Kasi in high school, I was a middle blocker. And then from then on, after I graduated, coach Tina said to try being a setter. So ever since — it’s been five years — coach Tina has always told me to be a setter,” Bonafe shared.
Now, with Cal — who started all five games for Akari in the pool stage — still recovering from patellar tendonitis in both knees, Salak believes this is the perfect moment for Bonafe to shine and prove she belongs on this stage.
Cal had been playing through the injury since the previous conference. She is currently in her second week of rehab, making it unlikely she’ll return in time for the remainder of the tournament.
In the meantime, Bonafe is expected to continue filling the role, with Salak expressing full confidence in the young playmaker’s ability to lead the team deep into the playoffs.
“‘Yung potential kasi nandun eh. It’s on how you use it and when to use it. Sa kanya kasi parang nade-deprive siya of showing her talent. But for me, there’s no time to itago mo pa eh. Ito na eh,” Salak explained.
“So either let it be or let it go away. And good thing lang, inembrace niya ‘yung challenge na ‘yon. And for me as a coach — coach ko rin siya since high school — nakita ko na up to the challenge siya,” the decorated setter added.
“Malayo mararating niya. This was her breakthrough game. Marami pa tayong mahikitang gano’n na plays ni Bea.”
