PVL: Jeered and booed Akari couldn’t handle crowd, admits Minowa

Akari Chargers coach Taka Minowa during the PVL Reinforced Conference title game against the Creamline Cool Smashers.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Akari admitted the jeers and boos from the crowd played a part in its loss to Creamline in the PVL Reinforced Conference title game on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

From the moment they came out of the dugout, the Chargers were bashed–particularly their players Grethcel Soltones, Ivy Lacsina, and Ezra Madrigal, who were booed every time their faces were shown on the screen.

It was an unusual sight in the PVL’s seven seasons and even in Philippine volleyball in general.

Akari was expecting the worst after booking its first trip to the championship following a controversial five-set win over PLDT last Saturday that was marred by a crucial unsuccessful net fault challenge against Madrigal.

But Japanese coach Taka Minowa was still shocked by the rowdy atmosphere–something he hadn’t experienced even in his stint in China and first two conferences with Nxled.

READ: Creamline on cloud 9 after beating Akari for PVL Reinforced crown

Minowa and Lacsina on handling jeers. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/fo62oTP0BK

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 5, 2024

“I’m the person who always make it tactical but in this time, seeing all the faces of my players was totally different. They didn’t enjoy playing volleyball and until the end, the fans didn’t stop,” Minowa told reporters. 

“I feel like it’s not normal because if you ask someone, someone will say normal. But I hope it’s not going to be normal it’s very bad also. Hopefully, we’re going to learn from this experience but how to handle, actually, I will say I haven’t handled anything like this before. In the past games, after a set [loss] we always recover but in this time until the end we cannot handle the fans that’s why we have a lot of learnings in this final.”

Minowa added the team had already felt bothered heading to the final because of the bashing and threats they received online, which the Akari management condemned before the game. 

“After the semifinal, no one was happy, even we won it’s not happy because we also respect PLDT and also because of the social media. it’s really, we cannot prepare well also in this final because even if we prepare well in practice, our players also kinda cannot stay away from social media. For sure everyone’s affected. It’s kinda hard for me because we just work as [pro] volleyball [players and coaches] not to fight volleyball [fans]. We have something before going to the court against Creamline. That’s harder for us,” the Akari coach said. 

Lacsina, who was held to her worst game as Akari’s top local scorer this conference with just four points, admitted most of them were affected even if they tried their best to block out the noise. 

“Young team kami hindi lahat sanay sa ganung crowd. Ginuide na lang namin yung mga bago and hindi pa sanay sa ganun so di namin siya totally na-block out,” said Lacsina. “Lagi ko namang sinasabi maganda man o hindi yung ginagawa mo may masasabi sila and ayun siguro hindi naman ako pumunta doon para lang din sa kanila and nire-respect ko naman kung anong mga gusto at hindi nila [gusto]. Inisip ko yung team doon ako nag-focus.”

READ: Akari’s character key in PVL final vs Creamline

Despite the straight-set loss, Minowa was still pleased with his squad’s campaign, which was highlighted by 10 consecutive wins. He believes the best is yet to come for new-look Akari, which missed Alas Pilipinas players Faith Nisperos and Fifi Sharma.

“This is Akari players’ potential. For sure, if we continue to work hard in training, we can make it better. Again, we just started this team. Hopefully, we’re gonna be on the same page. For the next conference, it’s going to be longer, this is also a challenge for the young team because we need to play united as a team in eight months,” he said.

Lacsina is also taking their loss in stride. 

“Masaya po kami kasi young team kami and parang kailan lang kami nabuo tapos nasa finals ayun at least ngayon maaga namin naexperience yung mga kailangan naming aralin pa and kung san kami mag-focus para next conference,” she said. “Good experience siya for us at least alam na namin next time and sa mga next games namin paano namin siya ihahandle and hindi na kami mabibigla. Lagi kami tumitingin sa brighter side ng mga nangyayari, happy naman kami kung saan man kami dinala ngayon ni God ngayong conference. Sobrang thankful lang namin na naexperience namin lahat ito.”

Minowa put a premium on the Chargers’ recovery not only from a physical standpoint but also mentally and emotionally.

“Good experience for the final especially for this young team kasi we have a lot of young players, Actually this team, I met it only three weeks because before the conference I went to the under18 [national team]. I think we just worked tactically. So for the next conference, for me, it’s going to be a better team,” said Minowa. “It’s very also a bad experience because of the bashers. Physically we can but mental health it’s very toxic so we need to have a rest.”