As much as every sports team wants to win the championship, getting the opening W in any tournament is also highly important. Who doesn't want to start a possible title run on a high note?
That’s exactly what happened when the Akari Chargers battled the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Aiming to start their campaign with a bang, the two feisty squads went all out. When the smoke cleared, it was the young Chargers winning it, 21-25, 25-20, 27-25, 19-25, 15-8.
Coming up clutch for Akari was rookie middle blocker Fifi Sharma. The 22-year-old scored 13 points, including the team's last two, punctuated by a booming ace.
The 5-foot-11 former De La Salle Lady Spikers standout was quick to credit the entire team for the victory.
“I’m just overall happy with the results because it was obviously a collaborative effort so it makes the win more satisfying. I’m really happy because we got the win,” Sharma excitedly told reporters after the game.
As for her clutch performance, she boldly said she’s built for nail-biting moments.
“I really like playing under pressure, especially when I’m put in a position where I need to deliver,” Sharma said.
Akari’s prized newcomer also revealed her thought process during crunch time.
“My mindset was just focus, back to basics, breathe, stay in the present, don’t overthink things, just play your game. That has always worked for me,” Sharma added.
Sharma and Akari will go for their second win in a row as they take on the hobbling Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Tuesday, October 24.
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada, One Sports Digital)
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