Seamless Sabete position shift helps Petro Gazz past PLDT  

Petro Gazz Angels against PLDT High Speed Hitters in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Jonah Sabete, lost early on in the relentless player-shuffling style of Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara, just proved that no task is big enough for her for the needs of the team.

Sabete played as an opposite hitter—also to her surprise—and proved quite effective at it on Tuesday, scoring 17 points to help the Angels pull out a come-from-behind 12-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-20 victory over PLDT in the PVL All-Filipino Conference eliminations at PhilSports Arena.

She just made the most out of the latest chance that she got, especially after seeing her minutes dwindle in the Reinforced Conference because they had Wilma Salas as an import.

“The frustration was there, but I never made my teammates feel it,” Sabete told the Inquirer in Filipino after helping the Angels rise to 4-1 and dealing the High Speed Hitters a second straight defeat after a 3-0 start.

Sabete was made to play out of her comfort zone by Tsuzurabara because the veteran Aiza Maiso-Pontillas was nursing a slight calf sprain. She made the most out of her chance, and, for all intents and purposes, sealed her place back in the rotation.

“I felt nervous because I don’t practice [being an opposite hitter],” Sabete added in a playful tone.

Myla Pablo, a returning star who has eaten up a lot of Sabete’s time at the open spiker’s position, tossed in 19 points with Brooke Van Sickle drilling in 21 to lead the Angels. Pablo’s recent success is one thing Sabete is happy with.

“I should continue supporting Myla,” Sabete, who missed the Angels’ game against Creamline last week where the Cool Smashers dealt them their only loss, said. INQ