Akari’s Mich Cobb: ‘We’re Just People… Why Are People Going So Low?’

After the finals match between the Akari Chargers and Creamline Cool Smashers, Akari Chargers’ Captain Mich Cobb admitted they were affected by the the backlash stemming from the semifinals dispute with the PLDT High Speed Hitters. 

Just hours before the finals match at the PVL Reinforced Conference on September 4, the Akari Chargers revealed there were threats directed toward their players and coaching staff after their victory over the PLDT High Speed Hitters. 

“While we understand the passion and emotion that sports can evoke, there is absolutely no place for threats and intimidation in our spirits or in society,” wrote the team. 

Nevertheless, Cobb said Akari just had to stick to the game plan every game. 

“Every time we stray away from the game plan, there’s a pattern na it’s not going good. So our mindset palagi going into the game is just stick to the game plan,” Cobb told ALL-STAR. 

Sisterhood is one thing that also got them to climb up to Silver Place. Every one of them sharing the same pace and rhythm inside the playing field, helped them a lot as a team.

“On the nontactical side, every game we go in as one team knowing that we got each other’s back. Like not disregarding who’s inside we know na, even if slow start yung isa, kung may papalit man na isa, everyone is on the same pace, same rhythm.”

They say that they have nothing to lose coming into the game with the Creamline Cool Smashers. The Chargers had to deal with a lot of hate and backlash given the recent dispute with the High Speed Hitters.

“Marami din nangyari the past few days. We had to deal with a lot of hate, a lot of backlash.I think going into this game, laro na lang talaga nasa isip namin. Nothing special. Basic na lang talaga. Kasi external factors, it’s always gonna be there like the crowd, the situations, but today sama-sama kaming pumasok at lumabas ng court.”

“Definitely is an understatement” is the phrase they used to describe how the situation with PLDT affected them as athletes.

“I take comfort with the fact na we’re just players at the end of the day. We’re just people. Manlalaro lang kami ng volleyball like why are people going so low as they are right now in the past games. Pare-parehas lang naman tayo mahilig sa volleyball. It’s easy to say that we didn’t get affected because we’re strong like that but at the end of the day we’re just people playing volleyball.”