For Bea Bonafe, it was time.
After two full seasons and five conferences with Creamline, the young setter made the difficult but deliberate decision to step away from the powerhouse Cool Smashers and embrace a bigger challenge with the Akari Chargers in the upcoming Premier Volleyball League season.
With her contract expiring in June, Bonafe saw an opportunity—not just to find a new team, but to pursue personal growth and step outside her comfort zone.
“Well, my contract with Creamline ends in June, so I wanted to go for another team. I asked them if it's okay to get released already so I can look for another team, get new growth there as a player,” Bonafe shared.
“Creamline has been really supportive in the transition of looking for another team. It's time for me to pursue my personal goals na rin naman,” she added.
Though her departure from one of the league’s most successful clubs was a bold move, Bonafe carries no regrets—only gratitude. She credits Creamline for providing a nurturing and welcoming environment throughout her stint, and for backing her as she took the leap toward a new chapter in her career.
Now donning Akari colors, the 23-year-old setter is entering a fresh phase in a team that has undergone significant changes over the offseason. With longtime playmaker Michelle Cobb officially retiring and transitioning to a front office role as assistant manager, Bonafe steps into a larger spotlight with the Chargers.
“The adjustments, they've been great especially with the coaches and my teammates, they've been really helpful and they're all hands on with me naman,” said the former UP standout.
Helping to ease that transition is none other than Cobb herself, who has stayed active in the gym and continues to guide Bonafe from the sidelines.
“Ate Mich [Cobb] helping every day in training is just making the transition faster and better for everyone,” she added.
But it’s not just Cobb who’s helping her settle in. Bonafe’s arrival in Akari also marks a heartwarming reunion with two key figures from her formative volleyball years—Chargers head coach Tina Salak and team captain Justine Jazareno. All three share roots in De La Salle-Zobel, where Salak once mentored a young Bonafe while Jazareno stood alongside her on the court.
“Super full circle moment kasi coach Tina [Salak] was my coach in Zobel, so we were together for like four years in my life in high school and so coming back here under her naman, with a new position as a setter, it's really just a dream come through,” Bonafe said.
Their shared history, she explained, provides not just comfort but a deeper connection to the team’s culture and identity—one Salak has been actively rebuilding since taking over the Chargers.
“It's really a huge help kasi coming in from high school, just the bond is the brand. Coach Tina wants to really build the culture again of what we had in Zobel and when she coached in FEU, so having the people and the same roster is about building a family again.”
