Angels regroup, take down Highrisers in straight sets
Joy Dacoron steps up for the Angels in their first win. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
It took Petro Gazz less than 24 hours to get back on its feet in the PVL On Tour, a great trait the Angels can use when the real battles come along.
The reigning All-Filipino champions carved out a 25-23, 25-21, 26-24 decision of Galleries Towers on Sunday in Pool A action of the preseason event in Batangas, and Myla Pablo believes that how they made the quick turnaround from a five-set setback is a good sign.
“We just told each other that was just the first game and we still have a lot more games where we can bounce back,” Pablo said, as the Angels actually worked their way back from a 20-23 deficit in the third frame. “Whoever is left here should find a way to help this team.”
Petro Gazz is seeing action without the prolific two-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle and efficient middle blocker MJ Phillips, but Pablo said their absences are not reasons for anyone on the team to be slacking back.
“We shouldn’t look for someone who’s not here,” Pablo, who scored 14 points, continued after the Angels rose to 1-1 in dealing the Highrisers a second straight defeat. “Whoever is there should just contribute, and you can see that everyone had a good performance.”
Van Sickle and Phillips are currently with Alas Pilipinas in the VTV Cup in Vietnam.
Petro Gazz should actually be the last team that would be dazed by missing pieces, as coach Koji Tsuzurabara always prioritizes utilizing everyone on his roster.
Joy Dacoron and Jonah Sabete contributed 10 points apiece as Djanel Cheng tossed 16 excellent sets.
To fill in the gaps, the Japanese mentor activated sophomores AA Adolfo and Donna Paralejas and gave a baptism by fire to rookies Julyana Tolentino and Pauline de Guzman.
“Coach tried our rookies, to what extent they can take it and this is their first time so they were still nervous,” Pablo said.
“I think we just had lapses in the first game, and what happened just became a time for adjustment,” Pablo added. “There’s pressure because we are a champion team and then like we said, every team got stronger so we can’t be complacent.” INQ
