Akari has officially appointed Tina Salak as head coach of the Chargers for the upcoming 2025 season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), the team announced Monday evening through its social media platforms.
Salak, a former national team captain and decorated setter, will be making her debut as a head coach in the professional ranks after serving as an assistant to former Akari head coach Taka Minowa during the 2024 PVL season.
The transition also signals a significant shakeup in the Chargers' coaching staff, as assistant coaches Rodel Canino, Vilet Ponce De Leon, and Yuga Hagashi have all parted ways with the team as of Sunday. Salak is expected to have input in forming her new staff for the upcoming season.
Akari experienced mixed results under Minowa's leadership last year, finishing seventh in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, before bouncing back to claim second place in the Reinforced Conference. The Chargers followed that up with a third-place finish in the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference.
This marks a full-circle moment in Salak’s career. She was among the pioneering athletes in the V-League, suiting up for the Philippine Army and earning the Best Setter award in the second conference of Season 9. She also played for Chery Tiggo in the 2021 PVL bubble tournament.
Despite her new role at Akari, Salak will continue to serve as the head coach of the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP.
