Akari turns the page as Ezra Madrigal, Cams Victoria exit ahead of 2026 PVL Season

Change has finally arrived for Akari, and it comes at a symbolic moment in the Chargers’ young PVL history.

Fresh off a bronze medal finish in the 2025 Reinforced Conference, the Chargers have confirmed the departures of two familiar faces—Ezra Madrigal and Cams Victoria—marking the team’s first major offseason shakeup heading into the 2026 Premier Volleyball League season.

For a franchise that leaned heavily on continuity during its early years, the move signals a conscious shift from building around familiarity to actively redefining its identity.

Madrigal’s exit, in particular, closes a foundational chapter. A member of Akari’s original PVL roster when the team debuted in 2022, the 5-foot-11 Far Eastern University product became a fixture in the middle during the Chargers’ formative seasons. 

Her presence helped stabilize a young squad navigating its way through the league’s import-heavy era.

Her tenure with Akari, however, is remembered not only for on-court contributions but also for being entwined with one of the PVL’s most debated moments. During the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals against PLDT, a net-touch call involving Madrigal in the deciding fifth set ignited controversy, eventually leading to a successful protest and an overturned ruling.

More than a year later, that incident now stands as a historical footnote to a chapter that has officially closed.

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Akari Chargers have officially parted ways with middle blockers Camille Victoria and Ezra Madrigal.#PVL2026 #volleyball pic.twitter.com/TR7yJKIbQy

— Volleytrails (@volleytrails) January 5, 2026

Madrigal leaves behind a résumé that includes two bronze medals and a runner-up finish, along with a noticeable void in Akari’s middle blocker rotation. 

That responsibility now shifts to Alas Pilipinas standout Fifi Sharma, who is set to anchor the frontline alongside Ced Domingo and developing middle Jamaica Villena.

Victoria’s departure, meanwhile, reflects a quieter but equally meaningful transition. The former University of Santo Tomas standout joined the Chargers in 2023 and steadily carved out her role as a dependable opposite hitter. Initially backing up veteran Eli Soyud, the 6-foot-1 attacker later became part of a deeper right-side rotation that featured emerging scorer Steph Bustrillo.

With both Madrigal and Victoria moving on, Akari’s roster evolution under head coach Tina Salak officially begins in earnest. 

Beyond selections made in the 2025 PVL Draft, this offseason represents Salak’s first true chance to reshape the team, stepping away from a largely untouched core and toward a lineup built with long-term contention in mind.

As the Chargers set their sights on 2026, the message is clear: Akari is no longer content with incremental progress. The next phase will be defined by deliberate change—and the departures of two long-time contributors are the first signs of that shift. 

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