AKARI HEAD COACH TINA SALAK EXPECTS MORE FROM MARS ALBA

MANILA, Philippines — Akari head coach Tina Salak did not mince her words when it comes to assessing former Choco Mucho star playmaker Mars Alba.



From purple to pink, Alba made her debut with the Chargers and orchestrated 21 excellent sets to propel the team to its first-ever franchise win over the league’s 10-time champion Creamline, 23-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-12, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2025 Reinforced Conference last Saturday night.



When the press announced how many excellent sets Alba tallied in the match, the 2005 SEA Games bronze medalist playmaker and now Akari head coach, Salak, made a remark. 

“21? That’s little. That’s really little,” the head tactician said, while Alba was laughing and conceding to the claim of the statistical sheet. 

Alba made new tweaks in her plays with Akari and was also experimental inside the court after faking to spike and setting the ball, to also being an offensive force with multiple attempts for a kill.

For the 25-year-old playmaker, it’s all about the confidence that Salak gave her in being the floor general and getting to know more of the system. 

”We practice it in training, and what we really just do in the game is trust the coaches' system, because if we follow their system, the flow of the game will really be good. Just trust in each other,” Alba said. 

The Alas Pilipinas setter further added that she just wants to give her all to her new home. 

“For me, maybe I'll just give my all in whatever I can do to help the team, and that's it, I'll just give my best because I'm somehow happy that they follow the rotation/flow I want inside (the court/game),” she shared.



“I'm happy because they really didn't give up earlier. The team's heart and the character of each player were truly evident,” she added.

Alba officially parted ways with Choco Mucho last June 30.

She helped the Flying Titans reach a runner-up finish in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference. 



2025-10-12T07:44:43Z