Akari’s Ivy Lacsina during a game against Galeries in the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Far from satisfied after stunning third seed Cignal in the qualifying round, Akari coach Taka Minowa further intensified his team’s preparations bracing for stiffer challenges in the PVL All-Filipino playoffs.

Minowa knew exactly what he was doing as the grueling training sessions brought out the best in Ivy Lacsina and the Chargers at the start of their best-of-three quarterfinals series with the Galeries Tower Highrisers on Saturday.

“They’re improving a lot, especially at the end of this conference. It’s kind of a surprise, what they’re doing. So, that’s why we just need to adjust more for them and just make it work,” said Minowa.

READ: PVL: Akari’s Eli Soyud living up to ‘big challenge’

Akari coach Taka Minowa took their training to the next level. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/92oIsBlhUz

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 15, 2025

“Maybe as a Japanese, I already get used to make it for the high-intensity practice. Of course, we already have intense [training]. The [past] two days or three days, it’s kind of high, to prepare. We need to maximize the training time for building a team to make it better.”

Prepared to go through the toughest of battles, Akari withstood Galeries’ spirited effort to eke out a 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-11 win in their series opener.

Ivy Lacsina starred in the gutsy victory, pouring in a career-high tying 28 points on 22 kills and six blocks.

“It goes back to all the struggles we went through to get here. If only you knew how hard it was. We just kept thinking that we’re playing this game for each other,” Lacsina, who also had 12 excellent receptions, said in Filipino.

READ: PVL: Akari survives Galeries for quarterfinals headstart

Ivy Lacsina on Akari’s playoff run. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kt0Uv5xHs6

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 15, 2025

“We just kept pushing, knowing that there’s always someone ready to step up and take over when needed,” added the former NU Lady Bulldog and UAAP champion, who had her best offensive game since April of last year when she was still with Nxled.

Lacsina also said that they are “putting positive pressure” on themselves this year after reaching the Reinforced finals last year.

Lacsina and the Chargers are determined to close out the series on Thursday.

“We feel like this isn’t all we’re capable of. Coach Taka always reminds us not to be satisfied with what we’ve done.  Just because we won doesn’t mean we’ve reached our peak. For us, until we achieve our ultimate goal, this isn’t the best we can do,” she said.