PVL: Faith Nisperos relishes teaming up with former rivals at Akari

Akari Chargers’ Faith Nisperos. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Faith Nisperos is teaming up with former college rivals Fifi Sharma and Justine Jazareno in Akari’s campaign in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

From playing against each other in the past three UAAP seasons, the ex-Ateneo star and a pair of champion players from La Salle will be on the same side in the Chargers’ quest to book their first semifinal appearance in the pros.

Nisperos, who decided to turn pro in the Invitational Conference, is thrilled to be playing with Sharma and Jazareno as they continue to bring out the best in each other even now that they are teammates.

“They are bringing the aggressiveness that they’ve always shown during our games in the UAAP. It’s great to have someone like that on the court. I am learning a lot from them,” the PVL rookie told reporters.

After winning the Season 85 championship for La Salle, middle blocker Sharma decided to forgo her remaining playing years and signed with Akari last July. Jazareno, the starting libero of the Lady Spikers, followed her teammate and turned pro before the second All-Filipino Conference this 2023 season.

Akari Chargers’ Fifi Sharma. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The 23-year-old outside spiker was pleased with the Chargers’ busy recruitment drive, which included veteran middle blocker Roselle Baliton, and she believes they are slowly completing the pieces.

“We’ve been training really hard. And with the additional players, we have Fifi, we have ate Roselle Baliton, we also have Justine, I could say that slowly we are able to put the pieces together,” said Nisperos in Filipino.

Akari coach Jorge Souza de Brito will continue to bank on holdovers Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Bang Pineda, Janine Marciano and Eli Soyud, and setters Michelle Cobb and Jaja Maraguinot after the Chargers shipped seven players to their debuting sister team, Nxled Chameleons.

Team captain Cobb said they seek to unlock the squad’s full potential in their fourth PVL conference.

“I think one thing we’re looking forward to this conference is basically turning our potential into proper results because we don’t want to be just you know, potential. We wanna make something out of the potential so that’s our goal (for) this coming conference,” Cobb said during the press conference on Wednesday.

After placing 10th last conference winning only one of their five matches, Nisperos can’t wait to showcase her talent in facing all the teams.

“Last conference, honestly, I found it bitin. Right now, I’ll be able to face all the teams and I think this time I know what to expect. And for sure I know the answer towards that,” Nisperos said.

Akari opens its All-Filipino campaign against F2 Logistics on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.