By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The newest team set to debut in the season-ending Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference is going all out in its player recruitments and vowed to put up a solid player pool.
In its recent Twitter post, the Akari Chargers confirmed that they already signed the Maraguinot sisters Jaja and Jho, both products of the Ateneo de Manila volleyball program to beef up its roster.
Jho, the older Maraguinot, is expected to bring an immediate impact to the team and is one of the craftiest hitters in the PVL.
Having stints with the Perlas Spikers and the BaliPure Water Defenders during the past PVL conferences, Jho will become one of Akari’s vocal leaders led by national team coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
Meanwhile, her sister Jaja is fresh off a bronze medal finish with the Lady Eagles during the recently concluded UAAP women’s volleyball Season 94.
Jaja was the primary setter of the team and averaged an excellent 4.49 successful sets per game while ending up as the league’s fourth-best setter.
After announcing that she won’t be returning to Ateneo for the upcoming Season 85, Jaja made it known that she had the intention to go professional and landed with Akari.
Another key addition to the team for the Reinforced Conference is Dani Ravena, Jaja’s teammate in Ateneo playing the libero position.
Ravena already got past her maximum eligible years of playing on the collegiate stage and will join her mom Mozzy as Akari’s team manager.
Akari’s first-ever signed player was Michelle Cobb, a former De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers standout.
Cobb was a part of DLSU’s winning batch that brought them the crown last UAAP Season 79 and 80 and put up a tremendous run during the grand finals.
Akari will join the Creamline Cool Smashers, Petro Gazz, Cherry Tiggo, Cignal HD, Choco Mucho, Army Black Mamba, and the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
