Akari Chargers appoint Philippine volleyball icon Tina Salak as their new head coach

The Akari Chargers announced on Monday, June 2, that they have appointed Philippine volleyball legend Tina Salak as their head coach for the upcoming season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

Salak replaces Taka Minowa, who stepped down after spending three years in the PVL and leading the franchise to its most successful stretch in the league.

The Akari management confirmed Salak’s appointment on their various social media platforms, stating:

Akari fam, please join us in welcoming the newest member of our team, COACH TINA SALAK!

A respected name in women’s volleyball, Coach Tina will be serving as head coach for the upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/9UrGNeXJac

— Akari Chargers (@AkariChargers) June 2, 2025

“Akari fam, please join us in welcoming the newest member of our team, coach Tina Salak! A respected name in women’s volleyball, coach Tina will be serving as head coach for the upcoming season. Under her steady guidance, we trust that our Chargers are in good and very capable hands. We can’t wait to see what new heights our Chargers can achieve under her leadership. Welcome to the Akari fam, coach Tina.”

This is a smooth transition for Salak, who has been part of Akari’s coaching staff since 2024 and is currently the head coach of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The 48-year-old has been impressive in the UAAP, leading the Lady Tamaraws to Final Four appearances in the past two seasons.

Salak is no stranger to the PVL. She came out of retirement at the age of 44 in 2021 to join the Chery Tiggo Crossovers as a playing assistant, helping lead the team to the All-Filipino Conference title. Widely regarded as one of the greatest volleyball players in Philippine history, Salak won two UAAP Championships and earned the Most Valuable Player award in 1995.

However, Salak faces a tough challenge, as Minowa led Akari to the finals in his first full conference — the best finish in the team’s history. He followed that with a bronze-medal finish in the 2025 All-Filipino Conference, giving Akari back-to-back podium results.

In addition to Minowa, players such as Cath Almazan and Ysa Bakabak, along with coaches Rodel Canino, Yuga Hayashi, and Vilet Ponce de Leon, have also departed from the Chargers.

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