Unbeaten Akari slowly perfecting mindset

Akari Chargers against Galeries Tower Highrisers in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–PVL PHOTO

For most of its young franchise history, Akari was one of the teams that reeked with potential but never came within sniffing distance of a championship.

After winning six straight games to remain undefeated in the PVL Reinforced Conference, guess what?

The Chargers haven’t moved any closer.

“Yesterday, I told them that until we haven’t won anything and the trophy or what is still not with us, we haven’t proven anything yet,” said ace hitter Grethcel Soltones, who took over in the stretch and averted a defeat to the unlikeliest opponent.

But at least, Akari is starting to have the right mental approach to winning.

The Chargers showed that much as it held strong in the end, erasing two match points Saturday to carve out a 23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 22-25, 18-16 over Galeries Tower at PhilSports Arena.

“I just try to remind myself it’s just about every point because I’ve seen it many times that we’re losing and it’s game point, but it takes a lot to finish the game still,” said Oly Okaro, Akari’s import, after she produced her second best scoring game with 32 points, 28 from attacks and four from the team’s 16 total blocks.

“Even if they’re at match point, and we’re down like one or two points, I just remember that they need to fight hard for that last point, if we fight just as harder or even harder, we’ll get it,” she added.

Demanding

Soltones, meanwhile, is developing her own leadership mindset. The former San Sebastian ace kept demanding the ball and resuscitated Akari when the Chargers faced a 12-14 hole in the decider.

“I asked the ball from [setter Kamille] Cal. I told her that I’d cover for her … We trusted each other,” said Soltones after tallying 13 points, 14 excellent receptions, and 11 digs.

The Chargers have been in the PVL for three years now but for most of that time, they set up residence near the middle of the pack, sometimes worse.

But there’s an air of optimism now around the Chargers, who as early as their first game in the second round already secured a quarterfinal berth.