After a controversy-filled semifinals match against PLDT, the entire Akari squad faced a storm of hatred and boos throughout their knockout finals against Creamline in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Despite this, they emerged with a silver medal.
American import Oly Okaro, who was central to Akari’s journey, remained undeterred by the hostile reception.
In fact, despite the negativity surrounding her first-ever PVL stint, Okaro expressed her desire to return to the Philippines.
“[My experience] was better than what I expected,” said Okaro.
“I know you guys keep talking about the negative or hostile fans, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t get to me too much.”
What stood out to her most was the community that surrounds volleyball in the Philippines.
“I just really enjoy that there’s a huge community for volleyball and that people love to come out and support. I really love the dedication I see people putting in every single day,” the 28-year-old spiker added.
“I had a really good experience playing here, and I’m looking forward to coming back.”
While Okaro acknowledged the backlash Akari received during the finals, she believed the team did well to stay focused.
However, the championship pedigree of the Cool Smashers – PVL’s winningest club – ultimately proved too much for Akari’s young squad.
The Arizona State University alumna was limited to 14 points in Akari’s 15-25, 23-25, 17-25 loss to Creamline, securing second place – Akari’s highest finish in franchise history.
(C) PVL Images
“We did a good job of blocking out the noise… But we already knew that Creamline was going to come in fighting,” Okaro reflected.
“For us and for me, I’m kind of upset that we didn’t win, but I’m still very proud of how far we came.”
Looking ahead, Okaro has already mapped out the next steps in her volleyball career.
However, before diving into her next contract, she plans to spend time with her husband exploring the Philippines’ famed islands.
“First, my husband and I are gonna travel. We’re probably gonna see Siargao, Palawan, and Boracay. I’ll probably be here for two more weeks, and then afterward, I don’t have anything set in stone until December – that’s when my next volleyball contract in San Diego starts,” she shared.
While Okaro doesn’t have an immediate playing commitment post-Reinforced Conference, she is set to join a San Diego-based volleyball team in the United States later in the year.
In her debut PVL conference, Okaro left a significant mark, finishing as the second-best scorer in the league after the preliminary round with a total of 203 points.
That included 183 attacks on a league-best 40.22 percent spiking efficiency, 13 blocks, and seven aces.
Despite falling short of a championship, Okaro remained grateful for her time with Akari.
“Overall, I still enjoyed my experience. I enjoyed everything about playing with the girls in Akari. Regardless of the crazy fans or anything like that, it didn’t bother me. I just wanted to focus on playing with the team,” she said.
