FILE – Petro Gazz Angels’ MJ Philips. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz team captain Remy Palma is excited to have her buddy and fellow middle blocker MJ Phillips back in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, which opens Tuesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Angels on Tuesday morning announced the return of Phillips, who is currently playing for the Gwangju AI Peppers in the ongoing Korean Volleyball League.
Palma told reporters that her fellow middle blocker still has no exact arrival date but she is expected to make it to the first conference and bolster the new-look Angels under Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
“We don’t know the exact date yet when she’s arriving because I know that her tournament in Korea is still ongoing,” said Palma in Filipino in the league press conference on Wednesday at Discovery Suites.
“We know that she’ll make it to this conference. And hopefully, she will be able to play a lot of games because she will be a big help to our team. We’re looking forward to what’s ahead of us and our performance this year.”
Petro Gazz, which signed Brooke Van Sickle, ruled the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League, beating Cignal in the final with its Filipino-American spiker emerging as the MVP.
Phillips, who was a vital part of Petro Gazz’s final appearance in the first All-Filipino last year, will team up with Van Sickle and reunite with Palma, Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas.
The 28-year-old missed the last two conferences last year after she was drafted as the only Filipino in the Korean Volleyball League as the fifth overall pick for the Gwangju AI Peppers.
Palma can’t wait to reunite with Phillips, who is a two-time PVL best middle blocker and won a championship with the Angels the 2022 Reinforced Conference.
“When I heard the news, I was really happy because my buddy is returning. I really missed her. More than her game, I missed our friendship. We’re excited and looking forward,” she said.