Pineda, Soyud join Akari

Akari brings in more veterans in defensive specialist Bang Pineda and winger Eli Soyud to beef up its roster for the 2023 Premier Volleyball League set to unwrap next month.

The club formally announced the arrival of the two Adamson University products in a social media post Monday night.

With the two onboard, the Chargers have high expectations when the season-opening Open Conference begins on 4 February.

A seasoned libero, Pineda will bring maturity and championship experience to Akari after powering Petro Gazz to the PVL Reinforced Conference crown last year.

Pineda said that she is looking forward to working with Brazilian head coach Jorge de Brito.

"My main reason for choosing Akari is the coaching and program. I have never experienced playing under a foreign coach, more so an Olympian in coach Jorge. I'm excited and looking forward to playing for him and Akari," Pineda said.

"I'm really excited on this new journey with them – to learn and share my knowledge and experience with my younger teammates," the versatile volleybelle, who can play at the wing spot, said who added that playing for the Chargers is a way of giving back to the company that supported her alma mater.

Opposite spiker Soyud, on the other hand, will add more firepower to Akari, which in its inaugural stint finished eighth in the nine-team import-laden conference.

Soyud played for PLDT last season.

The Chargers behind Dominican import Prisilla Rivera had a 3-5 win-loss record in Reinfroced Conference.

Meanwhile, Cignal also introduced two new members in Toni Rose Basas and Gyzelle Sy.