Akari joins PVL as new club; Mozzy Ravena to serve as team manager

Akari Lighting & Technology Corporation has rejoined the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) with the league set to be bannered by ten teams.

According to the PVL, Akari officially joined the country's pioneering professional volleyball fixture and is expected to level up with the competition with the help of team manager Mozzy Ravena.

Akari, the league added, is still in the process of building a competitive squad.

"We are glad to welcome Akari to our PVL family. It was three years ago when they first joined the PVL, supporting Adamson during the 2019 Collegiate Conference," said PVL president Ricky Palou.

"They have been in volleyball for so long and it's good to see them go into the professional ranks."

Akari had been a familiar figure in the PVL, backing Adamson University when it won the Collegiate Conference back in 2019. In 2016, Akari also supported Adamson's men's basketball, women's volleyball, and pep squads while mounting the Akari Cup, a youth volleyball tournament.

"We are excited to join the PVL. For Akari, it feels like we are graduating college since we are entering the pros," said Akari sports director Russell Balbacal.

"For years, we have been supporting grassroots and collegiate teams. We feel like this is the right time to go a level higher."

Akari will join the 2022 Open Conference champion Creamline as well as several powerhouse teams in Petro Gazz, Cignal, and Choco Mucho, all of which reached the semifinals of the previous conference.

Completing the 10-team league are PLDT, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, BaliPure, and Black Mamba Army.

—JMB, GMA News