The Akari Power Chargers, more commonly known as the Akari Chargers, are a Philippine women's professional volleyball team by Akari Lighting & Technology Corporation. The team competes in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), where they have been since its establishment in 2022, and is the sister team to the Nxled Chameleons.
 2026 Akari Chargers season | |
 | |
| Short name | Akari |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Power Chargers |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Owner | Akari Lighting & Technology Corporation |
| Head coach | Tina Salak |
| Captain | Justine Jazareno |
| League | Premier Volleyball League |
| 2026 All-Filipino | 6th place |
| Website | akarisports.com.ph |
Akari's first venture into the PVL predates the Chargers itself, as they were the sponsor of the Adamson Lady Falcons during the 2018 Open Conference.
In 2024, Akari acquired Celine Domingo and Gretchel Soltones, which helped the team earn a series of podiums over the next few conferences. In the 2024 Reinforced Conference, they made the finals for the first time, where they lost to the Creamline Cool Smashers in the culminating series.
History
editThe Akari Chargers was organized by Akari Lighting & Technology Corporation, announcing its official entry into the Premier Volleyball League as the 10th professional club team.[1] Akari's has been a longtime sponsor of the Adamson Lady Falcons collegiate volleyball team which clinched the 2019 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference.[2]
Before the start of the 2022 reinforced conference, Akari announced that it tapped the Brazilian head coach of the Philippines women's national volleyball team, Jorge Souza de Brito to be its head coach.[3] The team debuted in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.
The team made its first finals appearance in the PVL during the 2024 Reinforced Conference,[4] where they settled for silver after losing 3–0 to the Creamline Cool Smashers.[5]
Current roster
edit| Akari Chargers roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Pos. | Height | DOB | From |
| 2 |  |
Fifi Sharma | Middle Blocker | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | April 27, 2001 | De La Salle |
| 4 | |
Stephanie Bustrillo | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | January 7, 2001 | Philippines |
| 5 | |
Gretchel Soltones | Outside Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | September 9, 1995 | San Sebastian |
| 6 | |
Chenie Tagaod | Outside Hitter | January 22, 2002 | Far Eastern | |
| 7 | |
Kamille Cal | Setter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | April 25, 2001 | National-U |
| 8 | |
Baby Jyne Soreño | Opposite Hitter | July 9, 2000 | De La Salle | |
| 9 | |
Theo Bea Bonafe | Setter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | December 31, 2001 | Philippines |
| 10 | |
Judith Abil | Libero | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | December 4, 1997 | UE |
| 11 | |
Faith Nisperos | Outside Hitter | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | January 2, 2000 | Ateneo |
| 12 | |
Joan Doguna | Outside Hitter | July 5, 2000 | Lyceum | |
| 13 | |
Celine Domingo | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | April 20, 1999 | Far Eastern |
| 14 | |
Jamaica Villena | Middle Blocker | January 30, 2001 | Emilio Aguinaldo | |
| 15 | |
Justine Jazareno (C) | Libero | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | March 25, 2000 | De La Salle |
| 16 | |
Ivy Lacsina | Outside Hitter | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | October 21, 1999 | National-U |
| 17 | |
Mary Rhose Dapol | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | December 1, 2000 | UPHSD |
| 18 | |
Cza Carandang | Middle Blocker | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | October 11, 1995 | Far Eastern |
| 19 | |
Mars Alba | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | August 26, 1999 | De La Salle |
| 24 | |
Eli Soyud | Opposite Hitter | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | December 27, 1995 | Adamson |
| – | |
Tin Tiamzon | Outside Hitter | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | May 4, 1997 | De La Salle |
| Updated as of: May 24, 2026 | Source: PVL.ph | ||||||
|
Coaching staff
|
Team staff
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Medical staff
|
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | Conference | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2022 | Reinforced | 8th (3–5, 9 pts) | Did not qualify | 8th place | [6] |
| 2023 | First All-Filipino | 8th (2–6, 5 pts) | Did not qualify | 8th place | [7] |
| Invitational | 4th (1–3, 3 pts) (Pool A) | Did not qualify Lost in ninth place match va. Petro Gazz, 2–3 |
10th place | [8] | |
| Second All-Filipino | 7th (5–6, 14 pts) | Did not qualify | 7th place | [9] | |
| 2024 | All-Filipino | 7th (5–6, 15 pts) | Did not qualify | 7th place | [10] |
| Reinforced | 1st (8–0, 21 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Farm Fresh, 3–1 Won in semifinals vs. PLDT, 3–2 Lost in championship vs. Creamline, 0–3 |
Runner-up | [11] | |
| Invitational | Did not participate[a] | ||||
| 2024–25 | All-Filipino | 7th (5–6, 15 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Galeries Tower, 2–0[b] Finished 3rd in semifinals (1–2, 2 pts)[c] Won in third place series vs. Choco Mucho, 2–1[b] |
3rd place | [13] |
| PVL on Tour | 5th (2–3, 6 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Cignal, 0–3 | 8th place | [14] | |
| Invitational | Did not qualify | ||||
| Reinforced | 8th (4–4, 12 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Farm Fresh, 3–0 Lost in semifinals vs. Petro Gazz, 2–3 Won in third place match vs. PLDT, 3–2 |
3rd place | [15] | |
| 2026 (team) |
All-Filipino | 6th (5–4, 15 pts) | Lost in Play-in final (Pool B) vs. Creamline, 1–3 | 6th place | [16] |
- Notes
- ↑ Although Akari qualified for the 2024 Invitational Conference, the team declined the invitation to participate in the conference due to injuries.[12]
- 1 2 Best-of-three series.
- ↑ Round-robin tournament.
Individual awards
edit| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Reinforced | 2nd Best Outside Spiker | Grethcel Soltones |
[17] |
Team captains
edit- Michelle Cobb (2022–2025)
- Justine Jazareno (2025–present)
Imports
edit
Former players
edit|
Local players
|
Foreign players
|
Draft history
edit| Season | Pick No. | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | Stephanie Bustrillo |
| 2025 | 10 | Chenie Tagaod |
| 22 | Jamaica Villena | |
| 27 | Joan Doguna |
Coaches
edit
Jorge Souza de Brito (2022–2023)[21]- Raffy Mosuela (2024; Interim coach)[22]
Takayuki Minowa (2024–2025)[23]- Tina Salak (2025–present)[24]
References
edit- ↑ "Akari commits to PVL as 10th team". PVL. May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ↑ Isaga, JR (June 2, 2022). "Akari set on forming 'best team possible' ahead of PVL debut". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ "Akari signs Jorge Edson Souza de Brito as head coach". PVL. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ↑ "Akari charges into first-ever PVL finals - but not before controversy". Spin.ph. August 31, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ↑ Caacbay, Kenneth (September 4, 2024). "Creamline captures ninth PVL crown at Akari's expense". ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ↑ Velasco, Jillian (November 15, 2022). "Rivera goes out on a high as Akari dents F2 Logistics semis bid". Spin.ph. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ↑ Dannug, Jonash (March 14, 2023). "PVL: Creamline seals top seed as Akari ends campaign". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Petro Gazz settles for 9th, stops Akari in 5". Premier Volleyball League. July 20, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ↑ "Creamline holds off Akari, nears sweep". Premier Volleyball League. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ↑ "Akari cruises past Strong Group, finishes 7th". Premier Volleyball League. April 27, 2024. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ↑ "Creamline claims 9th title, ends Akari's unbeaten streak". Premier Volleyball League. September 4, 2024. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ↑ Isaga, JR (September 3, 2024). "Unrelated to controversy: Top-seeded PVL team Akari pulls out of Invitationals due to injuries". Rappler. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Soyud sparkles as Akari claims historic AFC bronze". Premier Volleyball League. April 12, 2025. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Santos sizzles again as Cignal rolls into semis, ousts Akari". Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Akari shocks PLDT in wild bronze medal thriller". Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Creamline rebounds in set 4 to oust Akari, seals semis return". Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- ↑ Demigillo, Kiko (September 4, 2024). "'MVPons' finally real as Bernadeth Pons takes home PVL Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors". One Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Akari signs American middle blocker Oly Okaro". Premier Volleyball League. July 3, 2024. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Akari bolsters wing rotation with Annie Michem". Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ↑ Demigillo, Kiko (October 1, 2025). "Àkari lands American spiker Annie Michem for PVL Reinforced Conference campaign". onesports.ph. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Akari accepts De Brito resignation". PVL. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ↑ Dannug, Jonash (January 23, 2024). "Raffy Mosuela to handle Akari on interim basis". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ↑ Garcia, John Mark (May 20, 2024). "PVL allows swap of players, coaches between sister teams Akari, Nxled". Spin.ph. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ↑ Dukha III, Angel B. (May 12, 2025). "Salak now has reins as Akari chases maiden PVL crown". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 12, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2025.