AKARI began the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference with back-to-back wins over Galeries Tower and ZUS Coffee.
It went downhill from there.
The Chargers went on to lose their last three games to Creamline, Farm Fresh, and Petro Gazz without winning a single set.
Even as she normed 16 points in that five-game stretch, star spiker Ivy Lacsina’s best efforts couldn’t carry Akari back to winning form.
She’d also be first to admit that such a losing spell has been nothing short of a disappointment.
“Frustrating siya, pero siyempre, hindi naman ‘to individual game,” Lacsina said.
“Kailangan talaga namin mag-work as a team. Kumbaga para sa’kin, hindi ko tinitignan kung ano ‘yung resulta ng laro ko. Tinitignan ko ‘yung resulta ng buong team.”
Moving forward, the Chargers still carry the hope of getting better and replicating their title series run in last season’s import-laden play.
“May reason [‘yung losing streak na ‘to], pero hindi naman kami pwede tumigil dahil natatalo kami. Trabaho lang ulit kami and balik ulit sa training.
Lacsina added, “‘Yung aim is getting better naman talaga. Sadyang kinakapos lang and mga beterano ‘yung nakakalaban. Balik lang ulit kami sa drawing board.”
Taka’s tough love
If such a skid has been tough on the players, it’s been as tough to handle for Akari head coach Taka Minowa.
Through it all, he’s staying as cool, calm, and collected as can be to lift his team’s spirits.
But in his own way, he wants the Chargers to feel the stinging pain of losing one match after the other.
Only then will they grow and rise again.
“Si coach Taka talaga, tina-try niyang i-handle nang kalmado siya. Lahat tinuturo na niya sa’min to the point na kailangan na lang namin siyang i-apply,” Lacsina said.
“Mahirap din sa part niya lalo na’t head coach siya, pero kailangan talaga naming maramdaman ‘yung pagkatalo para matuto kami and mas mag-doble-trabaho.”
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