The Akari Chargers are the bronze medalists of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference. PVL Media Bureau

MANILA, Philippines – Fueled by the criticisms of their campaign in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, the Akari Chargers proved that they are now a contender in the Premier Volleyball League with a breakthrough bronze medal in the 2024-25 All-Filipino tournament.

The Chargers had reached the finals of last season's import-laced competition, but much of the credit for their success was given to their prolific American reinforcement, Oly Okaro.

Even coach Taka Minowa acknowledged that there were talks about this.

"In the last conference, people were saying, 'Oh, we have Oly that’s why we went to the championship [series],'" said Minowa.

READ: PVL: Akari sweeps Choco Mucho in Game 3 to claim bronze, its best finish in All-Filipino tourney

This time around, their All-Filipino roster left a mark, putting the league on notice that even with themselves, the Chargers could reach the podium.

The Mich Cobb-captained squad completed a 2-1 series triumph over Choco Mucho in the bronze medal match, stealing the spotlight following a straight-set 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 triumph on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Minowa shared that his initial goal this conference was a humble top six finish.

"Before the start of this conference, my target is to finish top six. Then after that, we’ll see if we go to the quarterfinals then the semifinals," the Akari mentor said.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina's extensive efforts with team statistician pay off

But they defied the odds and the critics, securing the bronze. Minowa said it was a "totally good conference."

"My project is we need to improve the other players on this team and get inspiration from the stronger teams. There’s a lot of things we can learn from that. It was a totally good conference," Minowa said.

Star spiker Ivy Lacsina bared that they had internal fights even throughout the competition.

"Siyempre, para sa amin sobrang laking achievement sa team namin kasi 'yun nga po, parang last year andiyan si Oly, ta's ngayon kailangan namin magdoble trabaho talaga," the star spiker said.

"Sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi grabe 'yung mga pag-aaway namin; lahat ng iyak, dugo binuhos namin dito ngayon. Sobrang masaya kami sa naging result," she added.

—WHAT'S NEXT FOR AKARI? THE GOLD, PERHAPS— 

After silver and bronze medal exploits in back-to-back conferences, the Chargers hope to snag the coveted one — the gold.

"Siyempre, talagang non-stop na trabaho kasi goal po namin ngayon is mag-podium, pero siyempre 'yung pinakagusto talaga namin is mag-gold. So wala po talagang titigil sa amin, pahinga lang po ang konti and back to the drawing board po," said Lacsina.

"Same din kay Ivy. Siguro kailangan namin mapulido pa 'yung connection namin, especially sa setters and sa middles namin and 'yung maliliit na errors, 'yun 'yung kailangan namin i-polish para mas maging ready kami 'pag napunta kami sa championship [series]," said Eli Soyud, who also had an impressive run throughout the competition.