The Chargers had plenty of lessons to absorb after falling short in the pre-season tournament.
Akari Chargers captain Michelle Cobb offered no excuses after the Adamson Lady Falcons pulled the upset rug from underneath the Chargers in the 2024 Akari Invitational Cup Finals on Wednesday night.
Billed as the fancied team to win the title, the Chargers faltered over the Lady Falcons in a five-set thriller at the Adamson University Gymnasium.
[RELATED STORY: Adamson Lady Falcons upset Akari Chargers to rule Akari Invitational Cup]
Gracious in defeat, Cobb tipped her hat to the young, feisty Adamson.
"No excuses at the end of the day. Kahit na sabihin mong may certain lapses, may certain na iniinda mga ganun, siyempre no excuses yun. I think we should all give it to Adamson," bared the 24-year-old Cobb, as several Akari players such as Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Ced Domingo did not see action for Akari.
"As a collegiate team siyempre araw-araw sila magkasama. 'Di ko rin naman tine-take away siguro na mas marami silang time together, maraming factors. Pero at the end of the day siyempre a game is a game, result is a result," she continued.
Cobb is well aware that a single game does not define Akari's progress as a team.
Though it cost the Chargers a championship, Akari still struck gold with the lessons picked up during the pre-season tilt with a 6-1 record.
One of these valuable experiences, Cobb recalled, was when Akari dug deep and crawled back from two sets down to forge a decisive fifth set, which served as a testament to their character and resiliency.
"Marami kaming natutunan sa game na ito kasi first of all, down kami ng two sets. Doon namin talaga makikita kung ano 'yung mga real-life situations na kung paano namin i-overcome 'yun. So importante sa amin 'yung experience na 'yun. Na-experience namin 'yun dito," the former La Salle standout.
The week-long tournament also provided Akari the opportunity to integrate recruits Grethcel Soltones and Max Juangco into the rotation, while familiarizing the system of interim coach Raffy Mosuela.
As the PVL All-Filipino Conference fast approaches, Cobb and the Chargers are looking to put these lessons into practice.
"I guess leverage din na gamitin namin ito if ever na mangyari sa amin ulit ito sa PVL we would be more aware. We would know how to go about things as such," she shared.