Petro Gazz Angels. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—New Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro is a win away from his first-ever trip to the Finals in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
But he reminds his Angels not to look too far ahead as closing out a series is the hardest thing to do when they battle a bounce-back-seeking PLDT High Speed Hitters in Game 2 of their semifinals series on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“This is just one step. Just part of the process. I keep on telling them don’t look far away. One point, one set, one game at a time. It’s still a process. We just have to enjoy first and focus on the journey going to the destination. Journey beyond, Petro Gazz,” said Almadro on the heels of their 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 victory over PLDT in Game 1 on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
Almadro, who credited the Angels for bringing him this far in the PVL after parting ways with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans last year, is putting a premium on keeping themselves passionate in the game to achieve their goal of making their third All-Filipino Finals appearance—another shot at the local title, which the franchise hasn’t won after winning two Reinforced crowns.
“The steadiness of will, sound mind, and ask for power. Of course, love what we’re doing. Yun yung number one, pag mahal mo yung ginagawa mo, mahal mo yung team mo, mahal mo yung nangyayari sa’yo, most likely all positives will be coming your way,” said the Petro Gazz coach.
(That’s number one, when you love what you do and when you love your team and everything that is happening to you, most likely all positives will be coming your way.)
Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro. PVL PHOTO
Jonah Sabete shared the same sentiment as her coach.
“Kagustuhan talaga, yung number one na kinakapitan namin. Kagustuhan ng bawat isa na makapasok sa finals,” said Sabeta, who delivered a game-high 18 points.
(Our eagerness to make the finals, that’s what keeps us together. Each and every one of us really want to make the finals.)
Although five players scored in double figures in Game 1, Sabete, Grethcel Soltones, and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas played through cramps in Game 1.
But Almadro believes it won’t be a concern in Game 2.
“The players can manage. Sometimes, it’s not about physical only. We have to relax our bodies. Sometimes because of too high energy, they forget to taper the energy. We have to taper it. We have to maximize the strength, be relaxed, and enjoy the journey,” he said.
Sabete, who hit 14 attacks, three blocks, and an ace in Game 1, said she will fight on regardless of the pain just to bring back Petro Gazz to the Finals.
“Di na bago sakin yung cramps kasi nangyayari talaga bawat player din. Di lang din naman ako. Kung nasasaktan ka, kailangan mo i-push sarili mo. Labanan mo,” she said.
(Suffering from cramps is nothing new to me because it happens to every player. You just need to push past the pain and fight through it.)