Domingo welcomes fresh start with Akari

Multi-awarded middle blocker Ced Domingo looks forward to a new beginning with Akari after transferring from long-time club Creamline just over a month before the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season fires off.

The 2022 Invitational Conference Most Valuable Player will bring her vast experience and championship pedigree to the Chargers after the club secured the commitment of the prized frontliner.

"It's been a long time since I've tried playing for a different (local) team. So I'm very excited to try a new system and environment," Domingo said in a statement through her management VP Global Management.

Domingo last played on local soil in last year's Invitational Conference where the Cool Smashers finished runners-up to Japanese squad Kurashiki Ablaze.

The Far Eastern University product skipped the 2^nd All-Filipino Conference to take her act to Nakhon Ratchasima VC in the Thailand League.

Domingo, who helped Creamline win four titles since joining the club in 2019, is expected to hook up with Akari by late February after wrapping up her Thailand stint.

The 5-foot-10 star's arrival will strengthen Akari's frontline along with youngblood Fifi Sharma and veterans Roselle Baliton and Ezra Madrigal.

Domingo is also excited to learn and further develop her skills under the guidance of Akari's volleyball operations head Taka Minowa, who is also Akari sister team Nxled's coach.

"And knowing Coach Taka will be the head of the volleyball operations, I know that my teammates and I will be in good hands," Domingo said.

"I'm also excited to play alongside Ate Dindin (Santiago-Manabat), Ate Michelle Cobb, Faith (Nisperos), Fifi and my former teammates Ate Bang (Pineda), Ate Roselle, Justine (Jazareno) and Ezra."

The Chargers, who finished seventh in the 2^nd AFC, have been beefing up its roster for the coming season set to begin on 17 February. They earlier signed a grizzled scorer in Grethcel Soltones.

Domingo has expressed gratitude to Creamline's management for a colorful five years with the club.

"Leaving Creamline is always a hard decision. That's how it felt in October, especially after the surprise Thailand stint offer, but I thought this opportunity doesn't come often so I grabbed it. No regrets coz because I learned so much from this," she said.

"This time, another hard decision to leave them for good. Honestly, the management has always been so understanding and until the last conversation I had with (team manager) Sir Alan (Acero), I still really felt valued that's why I will always have high respect to the whole Creamline family."

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