MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
When Ivy Lacsina took her act to Nxled earlier this year after the disbandment of F2 Logistics, one of the deciding factors was the chance to play under Taka Minowa.
The two completed a PVL conference for the Chameleons before a multiplayer and coaching staff swap with sister team Akari sent the Japanese mentor and Lacsina to the Chargers prior to the start of the ongoing Reinforced Conference.
Now with a deeper bond, the two have helped the Chargers from being a mid-tier squad to becoming a powerhouse capable of reaching heights that former Akari crews never came close to achieving.
“The culture that he brought had so much impact on Akari,” Lacsina told the Inquirer in Filipino, referring to the changes Minowa took to the team. “We won’t be where we are at right now without the culture and system that he contributed.
“It has also helped me a lot in developing my discipline inside the court and building up the way I play,” she added.
After showing Farm Fresh the exit, 17-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23, in the knockout quarterfinals on Saturday night, the Chargers jacked up their perfect streak to nine wins.
Lacsina completes a lethal three-sided battering ram with import Oly Okaro and the seasoned Grethcel Soltones as Akari entered the semifinals and is well on the way to ending a repetitive string of frustrating finishes. This despite playing without Alas Piipinas cogs Faith Nisperos and Fifi Sharma.
‘It’s not yet over’
“I am really, really, really happy [to be a part of this] like there are no words [to express how I am feeling],” Lacsina said. “At first we just wanted to rise as one of the top six teams and now we are already in the top four.
“But we have been reminded by the coaches that it’s not yet over, and the opponents will only get tougher,” she added.
Okaro has also been a huge part in helping Akari make history in just her first stint here.
“It means a lot to me because I came here wanting to make an impact. I think that’s all the import comes and tries to do. But it’s really nice … knowing that the results are showing and that together, collectively, we’re getting closer and closer to the goals we have in mind,” the American said in a separate interview. “Its really nice to see the results starting to come.”
A decorated spiker, Soltones is one of the more experienced players for the Chargers as she continues to provide not only steady numbers but clutch points as well that have helped bail Akari out of tight spots.
“We aren’t thinking about [the perfect record]. It is already historic [for the franchise], but like what we’ve been saying, until we haven’t gotten hold of that trophy, we haven’t proven anything yet,” Soltones said.
Akari is a win away from reaching a first franchise Finals appearance, but before that, it has to overcome a semifinal clash against either PLDT or Chery Tiggo—neither of which would be a pushover—which battle for a place in the top four on Tuesday.
“We just know that our record doesn’t mean anything because if you lose [a] game, that’s it—regardless of the record,” Okaro said.” We just want to put that behind us and just not to think too much of what we’ve already done but focus more on what we need to do.” INQ