It's safe to say that Akari Chargers head coach Taka Minowa knows his players' voices really well.
How well does Japanese coach Taka Minowa know the voices of his players from the Akari Chargers?
Apparently, really well.
In a video posted on the Chargers’ social media pages, Minowa stepped out of his tactical role to take on the entertaining “Guess the Voice” challenge with his players.
The challenge was simple: the Japanese tactician had to identify players based on them saying, “Hi, Coach Taka”.
To everyone’s surprise, Minowa correctly identified 12 out of 17 players.
Among those he nailed were Kamille Cal, Fifi Sharma, Justine Jazareno, Dani Ravena, Ysa Bakabak, Steph Bustrillo, Maxine Juangco, Ezra Madrigal, Grethcel Soltones, Catherine Almazan, Faith Nisperos, and Eli Soyud.
The easiest among those? Dani, Gretchel, and Eli, which drew plenty of laughs from the team.
However, the challenge wasn’t without its hiccups. Minowa found himself stumped when trying to identify Camille Victoria, Ced Domingo, Ivy Lacsina, Michelle Cobb, and Erika Raagas.
These misses led to playful teasing from the team, with players joking around after the challenge.
The Chargers made sure to add some light-hearted moments in their training as they continue to ramp up their preparations when the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference resumes on January 18.
As the conference resumes, Akari (3-3) is finding ways to keep the energy high and spirits lifted.
First up for the Chargers? A grudge match against the PLDT High Speed Hitters on January 18 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Catch the full video of the challenge below: