The Akari Chargers walked away from the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft without a single rookie addition.
In one of the draft’s biggest surprises on Wednesday, Akari chose to pass on its No. 5 overall pick and ultimately did not select any player despite holding both first- and second-round selections.
The decision immediately surrounded questions especially after four highly regarded prospects came off the board before Akari’s turn. Setter Camilla Lamina went first overall to the Galeries Tower Highrisers, while libero Detdet Pepito was selected second by Capital1. Also chosen ahead of the Chargers were Tin Ubaldo and Nicole Ong.
For Akari assistant coach Eddieson Orcullo, however, the move was the result of a clear draft strategy rather than a lack of available selections.
“Actually meron. May first and second, kaya lang talagang dumating lang sa point na hindi namin [nakuha],” Orcullo said after the draft.
The Chargers had identified specific players they believed could immediately address their needs, and once those targets were gone, the organization decided against making a selection simply for the sake of adding a rookie.
“Siguro ‘yung dalawa na ‘yun talaga ang kailangan talaga ng team natin, pero dahil nga napunta sa naunang team na mag-select, kaya we decided to pass na rin.”
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So Akari was actually planning to get either Lamina or Pepito ONLY. Craaaaaaazy #PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/BXBjDhUGac
— kai
(@haeyoonists) June 3, 2026
The two players Orcullo referred to were Lamina and Pepito, both of whom were taken before Akari’s No. 5 selection.
Rather than scrambling for an alternative option, the Chargers chose discipline over urgency. According to Orcullo, the coaching staff and management were united in the decision.
“‘Yung management at si coach Tina (Salak), ‘yung coaches actually nakapag-usap naman kami regarding dun kaya so far okay naman kami dun sa result na nangyari tonight,” he said.
Akari still had other prospects on its draft board, but the organization remained firm in its evaluation process.
“Meron pero ‘yung dalawang tao sila dapat na makukuha namin pero dahil nga wala dun na nag-pass na rin,” the veteran FEU coach said.
The Chargers enter the new season with one of the league’s deepest cores already intact.
Leading the roster are established standouts Ivy Lacsina, Fifi Sharma, Grethcel Soltones, and Ced Domingo, while offseason acquisition Tin Tiamzon adds another experienced option to the lineup.
Instead of introducing a rookie into the mix, Akari is doubling down on chemistry, familiarity, and a group that has already spent time building its identity together.
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