Armed with renewed confidence from her Alas Pilipinas stint, Faith Nisperos delivered big off the bench in Akari’s rousing debut victory over Nxled in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Nisperos missed the entire 2024 Reinforced Conference due to her duties with the national team, but she announced her return in the biggest of ways during the Chargers’ four-set, 28-30, 25-15, 25-16, 25-23 win over the Highrisers on Saturday night.
“It all boils down [with] the confidence na na-gain ko since the Alas stint,” said the 24-year-old outside spiker from Ateneo.
“Of course, every opportunity naman ibigay kahit sino pa samin, we’re willing to give it all naman talaga. Of course, every time we step on the court, every moment matters so we have to give a hundred-percent effort all the time.”
(C) PVL Images
Nisperos came off the bench in the first three sets before starting in the game-clinching fourth set, where she dropped nine big points for Akari.
She finished with 16 points on an efficient 16-of-28 attacking clip in the two-hour, 12-minute slugfest.
“The skills everyday nati-train ‘yan but ‘yung pinaka na-carry over ko from my Alas stint is the confidence,” said Nisperos.
“So, as long as nandun ‘yung confidence ko sa sarili ko and trust ko sa teammates ko, I guess I could contribute to the team,” she added.
While Nisperos was away, Akari went on a magical run in the import-laden tournament, finishing the eliminations as the top seed before losing to Creamline via sweep in the Final.
Now back playing with the same core that helped the team reach its first-ever finals appearance, Nisperos said she is still in the process of reintegrating herself into the system.
She vowed to make use of the lengthy all-local tilt to rebuild her chemistry with the Chargers.
“Everything is a process talaga and I think I’m still at the point of trying to adapt, trying to gel more into the system, especially sa setters kasi siyempre, sila talaga ‘yung ka-relationship ko pag dating sa paglalaro,” said Nisperos.
“It’s a process, it’s a long conference. So I’m gonna take that opportunity, more than trying to win but like trying to improve each game.”
