A more mature power spiker Faith Nisperos will march into battle to lead Akari in the coming 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Following an impressive rookie year in the pro ranks, expectations are high for the prized winger as the beefed-up Chargers shoot for a breakthrough podium finish in the season-opening tournament starting on 20 February.
The 24-year-old rising star is determined to bring Akari into the Top 4 and from there work its way to claiming the franchise’s first medal.
“It’s always our goal to reach the Final Four. And for us to get into the Final Four we have to improve individually and as a team. Our improvements as individuals would bring up the team’s improvement,” she said.
The Ateneo de Manila University product made a huge impact for Akari when she joined the club last year.
She embraced her role as one of the Chargers’ go-to guys on offense averaging 11.4 points per game behind veteran Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who led the team in scoring with 16.2 points per outing during the season-ending 2nd All-Filipino Conference.
Still, Nisperpos wants to better her previous performance as she continues to adapt to the level of play in the pros.
“Well, we’ll never know ‘til we achieve something and of course, trust the process lang. I think slowly I’m able to adjust. In the pros it depends on your mindset. The skills are there but I have to improve on my mindset,” she said.
“I’m still trying to improve myself on that so that at least it would be easier for me to adapt.”
Akari, which closed the 2nd AFC in seventh place, shored up its roster after acquiring veteran open spiker Grethcel Soltones and multi-awarded middle blocker Ced Domingo in the offseason.
The Chargers also tapped Raffy Mosuela as head coach after Brazilian mentor Jorge Souza de Brito resigned from his post following another dismal finish last December.
