Akari coach laments lack of go-to girl

Akari’s 3-3 win-loss record in the opening salvo of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference could’ve been better if not for the team lacking one key piece: A designated scorer.

Although head coach Taka Minowa prides himself on having veteran setters Michelle Cobb and Kamille Cal distributing the ball well for the Chargers’ balanced scoring, he felt that identifying a true go-to girl would be an advantage especially when the going gets tough.

“I hope someone will step up and provide consistent points like in other strong teams like Brooke (Van Sickle), (Savi) Davison, or Sisi Rondina,” Minowa said.

Rondina of Choco Mucho, reigning Most Valuable Player Van Sickle of Petro Gazz and Davison of PLDT are all averaging above 20 points per game for their respective squads. During crunch time, their teams can rely on them to deliver the clutch plays.

A luxury, Minowa thought his team should try to develop.

“As I mentioned to the team, anyone can be a scorer in this team. Just like in our game (against Chery Tiggo) it was Greta (Soltones), last game Ivy (Lacsina), and in the first game Faith (Nisperos) and Eli (Soyud). But sometimes if those players don’t work, that’s the time we’re losing, that’s my assessment,” he said of his team’s initial run capped by a four-set win over the Crossovers before the holiday break.

The Chargers won their first two outings but lost three straight games in straight sets against Creamline, Farm Fresh and Petro Gazz before snapping the slump at the expense of Chery Tiggo.

Lacsina averaged 15.8 points per game behind Rondina, Van Sickle, Davison and Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh.

But bad outings and scoring dry spells from Lacsina as well as from Soyud and Soltones, who missed a game due to a wrist injury, got Akari in trouble during their slump.