Akari Chargers’ Oly Okaro in the PVL Reinforced COnference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Akari had some setbacks before and during its battle against Choco Mucho.
The Chargers had scheduling issues in their practices. The Titans seemed to have figured out what to do against one of Akari’s main guns, Ivy Lacsina. And then there was that two-set deficit the Chargers faced.
None of those broke Oly Okaro’s spirit.
“I just came ready to fight,” she said. “I know that there’s no way I am leaving without fighting, as well as the rest of the team.” Okaro willed her way to 38 points on Tuesday and energized Akari’s reverse sweep of Choco Mucho, 18-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13, for a 2-0 start in the PVL Reinforced Conference.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference
“We all have that same idea in mind so even after we lost the first two sets, it turned from a physical game to a mental game as well just knowing that you need to stay strong mentally because now it’s gonna be a long game,” Okaro said after matching the season’s single game scoring record set by Tots Carlos in the last All-Filipino Conference.
“So I think we executed it pretty well,” she added.
Facing former cog Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Akari looked like it was in for a short and ugly night.
But with the Chargers’ playmakers began unlocking Okaro even when she was in the back row, and the revamped crew instead accomplished their best start since joining the pro league.
“I was in destroy mode because I was just thinking even though we lost the first two sets, it didn’t mean anything to me. I just really wanted to win, I just wanted to do everything that we could to win,” Okaro said.
40 errors
With Okaro as the spearhead, the Chargers overcame a hefty 40-error mishap in the two-hour-24-minute clash.
“I think we also used [the setbacks] to our advantage because we came together and just remember what the end goal is and fight, just reminded the team of that and to stay focused and patient because it was gonna be a long game; and it was,” she said.
With the Flying Titans limiting Lacsina to a quiet 10 points, the American import stepped up from her debut performance of 17 points against Capital1.
“I knew that I could put [balls] away, at least most of them, so I wanted to take some load off from Ivy cause Ivy’s doing really well but I wanted to also step up in my position,” Okaro said.
“So I was communicating with the setter, letting her know that in this game feel free to find me, just keep looking for me I am gonna be ready, just keep throwing it my way.”
“I would say that the character of the team is a very strong and passionate fighting attitude because even though we’re down, collectively we come together so we all know that we don’t wanna lose this game, at least we’re not gonna lose it without a fight,” she added.