Akari wins game and gets something out of conquered Capital1

Akari’s Ivy Lacsina. Photo: PVL Images

While Akari dominated Capital1, coach Taka Minowa is more interested in seeing what his Chargers have learned from their most recent conquest.

“What I’m explaining [to my players is that] we need to learn from Capital1—what they are showing [in terms of] fighting spirit—because sometimes also, we are missing [that],” Minowa said after the Chargers short-circuited the Solar Spikers, 25-9, 25-17, 26-24, on Saturday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

“Even if we are not a champion team [yet, we need to act] like a champion team,” Minowa went on. “We just need to be more humble and to be focused on our improvement.”

Awed at fight

This has not been the easiest campaign for the young Solar Spikers, who sank to a 1-8 record. But even after losing the first two frames by winning just 26 points, Minowa was awed at the fight Capital1 showed in the third.

Akari, which just came off its best tournament by making the finals of the Reinforced Conference with Oly Okaro, rose to 5-4 in a roller-coaster campaign that Minowa wants to correct.

All of the Chargers’ losses were in straight sets, while all but one of their victories were carved out from four, which is where the Japanese coach sees his wards can apply the grit they saw on the Solar Spikers.

“Capital1 is really good, fighting spirits until the end even if the first set was 25-9,” Minowa said. “That’s what we need to learn from them.”

The Chargers would indeed need all the fighting spirit in their last two games in the classification round, with matches against Choco Mucho and Cignal coming up. Those teams are far better than Capital1 and wins will be important for Akari to gain the best playoff ranking possible.

“We want to win every game,” Ivy Lacsina, who powered Akari with 15 points, all from attacks, said. “We always say that we will continue to work and follow coach Taka’s game plan and continue building our own culture.

“Maybe that’s why we are moving much better [on the floor as a team] now,” Lacsina added.