Akari Chargers celebrate a point against Galeries Tower High Risers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

New season, same struggling start.

Akari triumphed in its opening game on Saturday, crushing Galeries Tower in four sets but not after catching coach Taka Minowa’s attention with the way the Chargers started the PVL All-Filipino Conference.

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“Since the last conference I handled Akari, it’s really a slow start, even today,” Minowa said after the 28-30, 25-15, 25-16, 25-23 victory over Galeries Tower. “I think we could finish 3-0, but … we started with a lot of errors.”

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In all, the Chargers finished with 33 errors against the Highrisers, prompting Minowa to say: “We just gave points.”

Minowa’s hopes for a three-set sweep weren’t unfounded. Once Akari cleaned up its act, Galeries didn’t stand a chance.

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Minowa switched up Ivy Lacsina and Grethcel Soltones and the ploy worked, allowing the Chargers to coast to an opening victory.

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Soltones delivered 16 points on top of 13 digs and eight excellent receptions. Ivy Lacsina also scored 16, while libero Dani Ravena protected the floor with 11 digs and 10 receptions.

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“We respect all our opponents,” Soltones said after the game. “Every crucial point, our mindset is we don’t want to lay to waste all the hardships we went through during training.”

With a 2-1 set lead, Akari then went to Fifi Sharma and Faith Nisperos, two standouts lent to the national program last season, and Eli Soyud to finish the job.

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Nisperos went on to score nine of her 16 points in the fourth while Soyud iced the game with two consecutive kills to finish with 21 points highlighted by six blocks.

“We missed [Faith and Fifi] last conference,” Soltones said. “I expect a lot from them especially since they got to play in other countries and they were among the best [in the national team].”—WITH REPORTS FROM LANCE AGCAOILI

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