Angels hope rediscovered winning touch will boost ‘challengers’

Petro Gazz Angels in a PVL Reinforced Conference game against Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –PVL PHOTO

Petro Gazz may be the defending champion of the PVL Reinforced Conference. But with the way things are going for the Angels, it certainly is far away from being in-form to defend the title it won two years ago.

And coach Koji Tsuzurabara definitely knows that.

“Everyone said to me, Petro Gazz was the defending champion. They were, but this year, we are not champions. We are challengers,” the Japanese mentor said after the Angels broke a three-game losing streak on Tuesday night.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference

Before that series of unfortunate events, Petro Gazz (2-3) has only been able to win its opening game against Pool B bottom-dweller ZUS Coffee (0-5) before drubbings against rising squad Capital1 (3-2), bracket leader Akari (5-0) and Cignal (4-1), all of which will be moving on to Pool D in the second round as the top-ranked teams.

It finally found its footing by mauling Choco Mucho (1-4), 25-18, 25-21, 25-18 as import Wilma Salas, Brooke van Sickle and Myla Pablo rediscovered their lethal forms.

“It took us a long time to win but now I understand how [we need to play] the game,” he said. “We have to keep this atmosphere in the next games. We will do our best more. We’re the challengers.”

Petro Gazz most certainly is one of the underdogs, along with the Flying Titans as of Pool C in the second round where it will face equally dangerous foes such as Creamline (3-1), PLDT (3-1) and either Chery Tiggo or Farm Fresh, depending on how those squads will fare in their Pool A closing games on Thursday.

READ: PVL: Petro Gazz ends slump with sweep of Choco Mucho

Salas will play an important role if the Angels plan to salvage its title retention bid and her getting back on track came at a pivotal time for Petro Gazz.

“I feel happy because we need this game [against Choco Mucho]. This game is very important for Petro Gazz so we take this game and I feel satisfied about this game,” Salas said. “I think, this is the start for Petro Gazz and we need now to continue working and training and for sure, Petro Gazz will go again.”

“I know now that I’m playing in a good way. My playing style is good. I feel better now so for sure, now it will be different because I feel better, and every day, I feel more better and this is now different,” the Cuban import said.

Tsuzurabara has tried every lineup combination for Petro Gazz to get its mojo back but one who made a difference is Pablo who saw extended minutes against the skid-snapping win against the Flying Titans.

And if Tsuzurabara will continue giving Pablo the spotlight, the former National University star plans to not waste the opportunity to help her team soar once again.

“Those three losses of ours, of course we felt down but we said that the fight is not yet over. We still have games so doon tayo bumawi in the remaining games,” Pablo said. “We shouldn’t lose hope.”

“I am happy to be given a chance by coach Koji to play … whoever we will play next, we will do our best especially myself who is rarely given a chance so why not give my best, right?” she added.