Akari Chargers

Akari Chargers
Short nameAkari
NicknamePower Chargers
Founded2022
OwnerAkari Lighting & Technology Corporation
Head coachTina Salak
CaptainJustine Jazareno
LeaguePremier Volleyball League
2025 Reinforced3rd 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 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

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.[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

Main article: 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference
Akari Chargers roster
No. Nat. Player Pos. Height DOB From
1 Dani Ravena Libero 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (1999-12-06) December 6, 1999 Ateneo
2 Fifi Sharma Middle Blocker 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) (2001-04-27) April 27, 2001 De La Salle
3 Max Juangco Libero 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (2001-07-14) July 14, 2001 Far Eastern
4 Stephanie Bustrillo Opposite Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2001-01-07) January 7, 2001 Philippines
5 Gretchel Soltones Outside Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1995-09-09) September 9, 1995 San Sebastian
6 Chenie Tagaod Outside Hitter (2002-01-22) January 22, 2002 Far Eastern
7 Kamille Cal Setter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (2001-04-25) April 25, 2001 National-U
8 Baby Jyne Soreño Opposite Hitter (2000-07-09) July 9, 2000 De La Salle
9 Theo Bea Bonafe Setter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2001-12-31) December 31, 2001 Philippines
10 Judith Abil Libero 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1997-12-04) December 4, 1997 UE
11 Faith Nisperos Outside Hitter 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) (2000-01-02) January 2, 2000 Ateneo
12 Joan Doguna Outside Hitter (2000-07-05) July 5, 2000 Lyceum
13 Celine Domingo Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1999-04-20) April 20, 1999 Far Eastern
14 Jamaica Villena Middle Blocker (2001-01-30) January 30, 2001 Emilio Aguinaldo
15 Justine Jazareno (C) Libero 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (2000-03-25) March 25, 2000 De La Salle
16 Ivy Lacsina Outside Hitter 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) (1999-10-21) October 21, 1999 National-U
17 Mary Rhose Dapol Outside Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (2000-12-01) December 1, 2000 UPHSD
18 Cza Carandang Middle Blocker 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) (1995-10-11) October 11, 1995 Far Eastern
19 Mars Alba Setter 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) (1999-08-26) August 26, 1999 De La Salle
24 Eli Soyud Opposite Hitter 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) (1995-12-27) December 27, 1995 Adamson
Updated as of: January 31, 2026 | Source: PVL.ph


Season-by-season records

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]
Notes
  1. ^ Although Akari qualified for the 2024 Invitational Conference, the team declined the invitation to participate in the conference due to injuries.[12]
  2. ^ a b Best-of-three series.
  3. ^ Round-robin tournament.

Individual awards

Season Conference Award Name Ref.
2024 Reinforced 2nd Best Outside Spiker Grethcel Soltones [16]

Team captains

Imports

Season Number Player Country
2022 14 Prisilla Rivera  Dominican Republic
2024 04 Oluoma Okaro [17]  USA
2025 22 Annie Michem [18][19]  USA

Former players

Draft history

Season Pick No. Name
2024 6 Stephanie Bustrillo
2025 10 Chenie Tagaod
22 Jamaica Villena
27 Joan Doguna

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. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Akari bolsters wing rotation with Annie Michem". Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  19. ^ Demigillo, Kiko (October 1, 2025). "Àkari lands American spiker Annie Michem for PVL Reinforced Conference campaign". onesports.ph. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Akari accepts De Brito resignation". PVL. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  21. ^ Dannug, Jonash (January 23, 2024). "Raffy Mosuela to handle Akari on interim basis". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
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