Akari import Oly Okaro’s offensive exploits lighting up PVL

Akari import Oly Okaro in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — In just two games, Oly Okaro has already etched her name into the record books after taking the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Pool B by storm.

The 28-year-old American dropped a couple of 30-point performances in the Chargers’ reverse-sweep wins over Choco Mucho and two-time defending champion Petro Gazz for their franchise-best start in the PVL after going undefeated in three matches.

Her 38-point explosion in the hard-earned 18-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13 victory against the Flying Titans matched the league’s fifth-highest single-game scoring output set by Creamline’s Tots Carlos in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference last March.

READ: PVL: Oly Okaro still ‘could do better’ after 38-point outburst

Such strong showing on the offensive front earned Okaro the conference’s second PVL Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period of July 23 to 27.

Her brilliance outshone Cignal’s MJ Perez, Capital1’s Marina Tushova, and Choco Mucho’s Royse Tubino as she received the unanimous vote from online, broadsheet and tabloid reporters covering the professional volleyball league streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live App and www.pvl.ph.

It didn’t take long for Okaro to make an encore of her masterclass as her 31 markers led Akari to a 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 16-14 comeback victory over the skidding Angels.

Even as Okaro had the lion’s share of points three games into pool play, the 6-foot-1 opposite hitter refused to take all the credit in Akari’s surge.

“Ever since I got to this team, I already noticed there are a lot of standout players. I don’t have to name them, you can already see. Coming in, I was already like ‘wow, the team here is really strong,’” said Okaro.

READ: PVL: Undefeated Akari comes back to beat Petro Gazz

“Usually, when you have imports, everyone just assumes the import is the only strong player. But here in Akari, we have a lot of strong players so it really helps to ease the load off of me.”

A chance to strengthen the Chargers’ grip of the lead in Pool B awaits on Tuesday against the winless ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles before duking it out with also-unbeaten Cignal for the top spot in two week’s time.

“This Akari team has a very strong and passionate fighting attitude. Even though we’re down, collectively, we come together. We know that we don’t want to lose this game, at least not go down without a fight,” the American winger said.

“I don’t feel so much pressure thinking that I have to create alone.”