Mosuela, Salak light up Akari bench

Akari is bringing in a crack crew of tacticians for the coming 2024 Premier Volleyball League season as it formally named Raffy Mosuela as interim head coach with Tina Salak as his deputy.

The club formally announced Mosuela as the temporary replacement for resigned Brazilian coach Jorge Souza de Brito on Monday less than a month before the season opens on 20 February.

Mosuela is taking over a young squad reinforced by the arrival of veteran spiker Grethcel Soltones and 2022 Invitational Conference Finals Most Valuable Player middle blocker Ced Domingo.

His first order of business is to make sure that the team will be on the same page once the hostilities erupt.

“I guess it’s not the adjustments (with my new role) but more of the challenge of taking over as head coach, actually,” Mosuela told DAILY TRIBUNE.

“It’s a big challenge for me as an interim coach. They gave me a good opportunity. My main focus now, and I always say this to the players, is that we must work on our chemistry and our jelling as a team.”

Meanwhile, Salak is making a coaching comeback after stepping down as head coach of the Far Eastern University women’s team after the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 last year.

Salak decided to part ways with the Lady Tamaraws after her United States immigrant visa was approved.

Akari seeks a breakthrough podium finish in its fifth conference since joining the PVL in 2022.

The Chargers closed last year’s season-ending 2nd All-Filipino Conference at seventh spot with a 5-6 win-loss record. De Brito resigned shortly after the season ended last December.

“The management is looking for a good result. I’m not saying that we can instantly get into the championship, although it would be a big bonus if we achieve that at this conference,” Mosuela said.

“There’s pressure but I believe we can do better this time.”

Mosuela will also work closely with the Christopher Tiu franchise’s volleyball operations head Taka Minowa, who also handles Akari’s sister team Nxled.

“I’m not saying that it’s my system or the system of coach Taka but a collaboration of both. We can see the improvement of the team. We are working hand in hand. As our program head, he checks on my training plan for the day and the whole week,” Mosuela said.

Also pitching in inputs on the Chargers’ bench is Rodel Canino, who last worked for the disbanded F2 Logistics.