During the preliminary round of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, Akari head coach Taka Minowa consistently saw his team’s slow starts as an area for improvement.
But on Saturday night, the Chargers advanced to their first-ever championship match appearance with another come-from-behind victory over the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15.
Instead of viewing it as merely an area for improvement, Minowa embraced his team’s resilience, describing it as their “never give up attitude.”
“I think it will be the same… The never give up attitude,” said the Japanese head coach when asked about Akari’s approach for the gold medal match.
“Especially in the first round and the second round… We have issues with passing; when players don’t pass well, that’s when we really struggle. But they can shift their mindset once the set is over, and that’s a positive aspect for Akari,” he continued.
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Despite their tendency to struggle in the early stages of matches, the Chargers have consistently come out on top.
They finished the preliminaries with an 8-0 record, before winning both their knockout games in the playoffs.
Akari lost the first set in seven of their 10 victories but managed to bounce back each time, earning praise from Minowa.
“Some teams, after losing just one set, maintain a negative mindset. They think they need to do something drastic. But Akari’s strength is that everyone can change their mindset, leaving the past behind and focusing on the next ball. That’s the most important thing for Akari,” he said.
The Chargers will face the Creamline Cool Smashers in the knockout championship match on Monday at 6:00 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Akari and Creamline have yet to face each other this conference. Will the Chargers secure their first championship, or will the Cool Smashers capture their ninth crown?
