Akari head coach Tina Salak emphasized that mental stability and emotional control will be key for the Chargers as they near a quarterfinal berth in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
The true test is only about to begin for Akari as it moved closer to a quarterfinal berth in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
After sweeping Nxled, 25-13, 25-17, 25-22, on Thursday, November 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Akari finally got back in the win column, ending its two-game losing skid.
But for head coach Tina Salak, the bigger victory lies in the lessons the Chargers picked up from their earlier five-set wars — both the wins and the losses.
“I’m very glad ‘yung mga five-setters namin, even if it’s losses and wins, generally, nakita namin ‘yung character ng team,” Salak said during the post-game press conference. “
“There are a lot of lessons learned from those five-set games. Marami pa kaming puwedeng matutunan for these future games, so learning process siya sa lahat ng teams.”
A much-needed bounce-back
Against the Chameleons, the Chargers showed a cleaner, more composed version of themselves.
Akari swept Nxled to get back into the win column. | Photo: PVL
Annie Mitchem fired 22 points, while Grethcel Soltones added 12, as Akari controlled the match from start to finish.
The win helped them regain footing at a pivotal moment in the conference after improving to 4-3, tied for 5th place in the standings.
Building consistency through mental stability
With the second round tightening and every result carrying playoff implications, Salak wants her team to embrace the urgency without losing control.
“Iba ‘yung nakikita kong patterns ng games natin, but still, ang sa'kin lang, gusto namin makuha this second round, maka-abot sa good spot,” she added.
[ALSO READ: PVL title contenders? Tina Salak preaches patience after Akari's breakthrough win over Creamline]
Salak added that Akari’s biggest hurdle isn’t talent or tactics — it’s maintaining emotional steadiness when matches get tight.
“Mental stability,” she stressed. “Even in crunch time, feel namin na ‘yung emotions are too high. So we’re trying to settle down every time na nafo-foresee na ganito ‘yung nangyayari.”
To address this, the coaching staff has implemented a system that assigns certain players to initiate quick calming techniques during timeouts.
“May mga certain players kaming assigned to just tap, to at least inhale,” Salak explained. “May sistema na so para at least, kapag may nakitang isang down, puwedeng i-tap para maka-recover.”
With their composure back, Akari will look to lock in their quarterfinal spot when they face Choco Mucho on Tuesday, November 18, at the Ynares Center Montalban.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.