The Akari Chargers were the top blocking team of the previous conference. Imagine what they can do further with floor defense.
The Akari Chargers built an intimidating frontline last conference, adding 5-foot-11 middle blocker Fifi Sharma from the DLSU Lady Spikers to a roster that includes 5-foot-11 Ezra Madrigal and 6-foot-1 Roselle Baliton.
Add to that a veteran opposite spiker in 6-foot-2 Dindin Santiago-Manabat and a young outside power hitter in 5-foot-11 Faith Nisperos and it's as if you're looking up at trees.
No wonder that by the end of the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference preliminaries, Akari was the top blocking team.
The Chargers tallied a total of 117 kill blocks, no other squad crossed the 100-point mark.
That's an average of 2.85 per set.
That was certainly a legacy left by Brazilian tactician Jorge Souza de Brito. But with his resignation, comes a different kind of focus for interim coach Raffy Mosuela.
The assistant coach for the Akari Chargers would be taking the reins for now in the first conference of the 2024 season, the team announced on Tuesday.
"Magkakaroon naman kami ng additional sa blocking--floor defense connection," Mosuela told reporters.
The Chargers are gaining valuable knowledge in this aspect of the game after Takayuki Minowa, the Japanese coach of sister team Nxled Chameleons, was tapped as volleyball director for both squads.
For Mosuela, the delineation is easy.
"Nag-uusap naman kami. But pagdating sa games, more on tactical sa amin pa 'rin. But sa training, nagbibigay pa rin siya ng input," he explained.
"Napaka-informative naman lahat ng binibigay sa amin."
It's an easy transition and appreciation for Mosuela, who had stints as a libero with the men's national volleyball team and even became Best Libero for the PLDT-Philippine Air Force in the Philippine SuperLiga.
"Hindi na masyadong malaking adjustment. Merong mga idea si coach Taka na nakikita namin sa training, 'di na mahira adjustment kasi yung floor defense system may knowledge ako kaya okay," he told One Sports.
He's had plenty of coaching experience, not just as an assistant tactician for Akari. He was also part of Sherwin Meneses' staff with the national team, and helmed the Air Force as well as the junior squad in the University of the East.
But the Akari interim head coaching job was something Mosuela didn't actively pursue.
"Hindi ko naman pinush 'yung sarili ko mag-head (coach)," he explained. "Nag-uusap usap kaming coaches kung sinong papalit, nasa amin. Nag-decision 'yung manager namin na as a senior coach sa staff, 'dun ako pinasok."
He was a military man, so he steps up to take any job given to him.
The one thing he considers his biggest challenge though? Social media.
"Siyempre, rereceive naman ako ng bashers kasi bago. Kaya medyo 'yung challenge, medyo mabigat," he admitted.
And in Philippine volleyball, fans can be extremely vocal with mistakes made in a match.
"Sa social media, 'di ako hands on. 'Di ako ma-post, more on Marites, more on log-in lang," he said.
So what happens if he should read something negative?
He does it like how Akari does best in the court. Block it out.
"Minsan, nila-log out ko yung Facebook," Mosuela said, smiling. "Better (naka) off na lang."