Akari Chargers

Akari Chargers
2026–27 Akari Chargers season
Short nameAkari
NicknameChargers
Founded2022
HistoryAkari Chargers
2022–present
OwnerAkari Lighting & Technology Corporation
Head coachTina Salak
CaptainJustine Jazareno
LeaguePremier Volleyball League
2026 All-Filipino6th place
Websiteakarisports.com.ph

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.

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 Grethcel 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

The Akari Chargers was organized by Akari Lighting & Technology Corporation, announcing its official entry into the Premier Volleyball League as the 10th professional club team. Akari's has been a longtime sponsor of the Adamson Lady Falcons collegiate volleyball team which clinched the 2019 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference.

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. The team debuted in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.

The team made its first finals appearance in the PVL during the 2024 Reinforced Conference, where they settled for silver after losing 3–0 to the Creamline Cool Smashers.

Current roster

Akari Chargers roster
No. Nat. Player Pos. Height DOB From
1 Philippines Mary Rhose Dapol Outside Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (2000-12-01) December 1, 2000 (age 25) UPHSD
2 Philippines Fifi Sharma Middle Blocker 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) (2001-04-27) April 27, 2001 (age 25) De La Salle
3 Philippines Chenie Tagaod Outside Hitter 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) (2002-01-22) January 22, 2002 (age 24) Far Eastern
4 Philippines Justine Jazareno (C) Libero 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (2000-03-25) March 25, 2000 (age 26) De La Salle
5 Philippines Grethcel Soltones Outside Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1995-09-09) September 9, 1995 (age 31) San Sebastian
6 Philippines Japan Risa Sato Middle Blocker 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) (1994-10-04) October 4, 1994 (age 32) National-U
8 Philippines Jyne Soreño Opposite Hitter 1.750 m (5 ft 9 in) (2000-07-09) July 9, 2000 (age 26) De La Salle
10 Philippines Judith Abil Libero 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1997-12-04) December 4, 1997 (age 28) UE
11 Philippines Faith Nisperos Outside Hitter 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) (2000-01-02) January 2, 2000 (age 26) Ateneo
12 Philippines Eli Soyud Opposite Hitter 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) (1995-12-27) December 27, 1995 (age 30) Adamson
13 Philippines Celine Domingo Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1999-04-20) April 20, 1999 (age 27) Far Eastern
15 Philippines Tin Tiamzon Outside Hitter 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) (1997-05-04) May 4, 1997 (age 29) De La Salle
16 Philippines Ivy Lacsina Outside Hitter 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) (1999-10-21) October 21, 1999 (age 27) National-U
17 Philippines Xyza Gula Outside Hitter 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) (2003-08-30) August 30, 2003 (age 23) UST
18 Philippines Joyme Cagande Setter 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1999-02-18) February 18, 1999 (age 27) National-U
19 Philippines Mars Alba Setter 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) (1999-08-26) August 26, 1999 (age 27) De La Salle
20 Philippines Ann Monares Libero 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) (2002-08-22) August 22, 2002 (age 24) Far Eastern
25 Philippines Sharya Ancheta Middle Blocker 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) (1999-11-25) November 25, 1999 (age 26) Adamson
Updated as of: October 8, 2026 | Source: PVL.ph

Coaching staff

  • Head coach:
    Tina Salak
  • Assistant coaches:
    Eddieson Orcullo
    Vince Mangulabnan
    Jeremiah Barrica
    Juvie Mangaring
    Jade Nadera
    Sid Gerella
  • Strength & conditioning coach:
    Jem Manalang

Team staff

Medical staff

  • Physical therapists:
    Jules Parco & Joriki Suva
  • Physiotherapist:
    Juliene Cuyugan
  • Nutritionist:
    Dr. Jo-Ann Tan Lorenzo
This box:

Season-by-season records

SeasonConferencePreliminary roundFinal roundRankingSource
2022
(team)		 Reinforced 8th (3–5, 9 pts)Did not qualify 8th place
2023
(team)		 First All-Filipino 8th (2–6, 5 pts)Did not qualify 8th place
Invitational 4th (1–3, 3 pts) (Pool A)Did not qualify
Lost in ninth place match va. Petro Gazz, 2–3		 10th place
Second All-Filipino 7th (5–6, 14 pts)Did not qualify 7th place
2024–25
(team)		 All-Filipino 7th (5–6, 15 pts)Did not qualify 7th place
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
Invitational Did not participate
All-Filipino 7th (5–6, 15 pts)Won in quarterfinals vs. Galeries Tower, 2–0
Finished 3rd in semifinals (1–2, 2 pts)
Won in third place series vs. Choco Mucho, 2–1		 3rd place
2025–26
(team)		 PVL on Tour 5th (2–3, 6 pts)Lost in quarterfinals vs. Cignal, 0–3 8th place
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
All-Filipino 6th (5–4, 15 pts)Lost in Play-in final (Pool B) vs. Creamline, 1–3 6th place
2026–27
(team)		 Invitational Did not qualify
Notes
  1. ↑ Although Akari qualified for the 2024 Invitational Conference, the team declined the invitation to participate in the conference due to injuries.
  2. 1 2 Best-of-three series.
  3. ↑ Round-robin tournament.

Individual awards

Season Conference Award Name Ref.
2024–25 Reinforced 2nd Best Outside Spiker Philippines Grethcel Soltones

Team captains

Imports

Season Number Player Country
202214Prisilla Rivera Dominican Republic
202404Oluoma Okaro  USA
202522Annie Michem  USA

Former players

Draft history

Season Pick No. Name
20246Stephanie Bustrillo
202510Chenie Tagaod
22Jamaica Villena
27Joan Doguna
20266Did not participate.

Coaches

References

  1. ↑ "Akari commits to PVL as 10th team". PVL. May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Akari signs Jorge Edson Souza de Brito as head coach". PVL. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Akari charges into first-ever PVL finals - but not before controversy". Spin.ph. August 31, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  5. ↑ Caacbay, Kenneth (September 4, 2024). "Creamline captures ninth PVL crown at Akari's expense". ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Dannug, Jonash (March 14, 2023). "PVL: Creamline seals top seed as Akari ends campaign". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "Creamline holds off Akari, nears sweep". Premier Volleyball League. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Santos sizzles again as Cignal rolls into semis, ousts Akari". Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Akari shocks PLDT in wild bronze medal thriller". Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Creamline rebounds in set 4 to oust Akari, seals semis return". Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "Akari bolsters wing rotation with Annie Michem". Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  20. ↑ Demigillo, Kiko (October 1, 2025). "Àkari lands American spiker Annie Michem for PVL Reinforced Conference campaign". onesports.ph. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Akari accepts De Brito resignation". PVL. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  22. ↑ Dannug, Jonash (January 23, 2024). "Raffy Mosuela to handle Akari on interim basis". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ 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.