Creamline’s Pangs Panaga with her former teammates at Petro Gazz Chi Saet, Djanel Cheng, Wilma Salas.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Five years ago, Pangs Panaga helped Petro Gazz win its breakthrough PVL title in the 2019 Reinforced Conference, dethroning Creamline in Game 3 of the finals at Ynares Sports Center Antipolo.
Fast forward to the present day, Panaga was instrumental for the undermanned Cool Smashers in pulling the plug on the three-peat bid of her former squad on Tuesday night as Creamline advanced to the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals.
Though the veteran middle blocker was all business in their knockout quarterfinal game, she rushed to her former teammates during the 2019 title run including import Wilma Salas and shared a moment.
READ: PVL: Creamline knocks off Petro Gazz, books semis
Pangs Panaga on overcoming her former team Petro Gazz and helping Creamline reach the semifinals. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/zqs9yacrjW
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 27, 2024
“Siyempre ako trabaho lang din. Happy kami na nakuha namin yung win today. Sana tuloy tuloy pa for the next games,” Panaga told Inquirer Sports after scoring five points in Creamline’s a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 sweep of Petro Gazz at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Winning five titles with the Cool Smashers since her transfer three years ago, Panaga still cherishes the memories and experiences during her time with the Angels.
“Ngayon lang ulit kami, nagkita kita lalo na si Wilma so ngayon lang kami talaga nagka-time personally so I guess namiss ko talaga siya,” said Panaga, who had a photo with Salas, Djanel Cheng, and Chie Saet.
Creamline’s Pangs Panaga.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Although they faced a different Petro Gazz with Salas, Cheng, Saet, and Jonah Sabete being the only holdovers of their first championship squad, the College of Saint Benilde product was grateful that Creamline’s system under coach Sherwin Meneses continues to work wonders despite missing the star trio of Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza.
READ: PVL: Pons has something up her sleeve against former coach, Cignal
“Nagsi-stick talaga kami sa sistema kung sino yung wala, may mga tao naman na pupunan yung mga trabaho. And talagang alam naman namin and confident kami na gagawa yung tao na yun,” said Panaga after overcoming Salas and Brooke Van Sickle, who had 18 points piece for the Angels.
Panaga and the Cool Smashers seek to return to the Reinforced Finals when they battle the Cignal HD Spikers in a knockout semis game on Thursday at Philsports Arena.
“Mindset namin is mas lalo pa kaming magpush, magtrabaho pa. Siyempre patience talaga sa isa’t isa kasi alam naman namin na hindi ganun kadali yung games pero talagang tatrabahuin namin,” she said.