The Petro Gazz Angels are not messing around.
Many have questioned the skills of Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara at the start of the PNVF Champions League, as he experimented with the rotation of the Angels.
Many have forgotten that the pre-season tournament is the perfect place to test things out.
That experiment proved to be a success with a sweep of the Cignal HD Spikers in the finals.
The experiment also produced a Most Valuable Player award and Best Outside Spiker award for Brooke Van Sickle, along with a Best Middle Blocker award for new captain Remy Palma.
[ALSO READ: Best is yet to come for Brooke Van Sickle and Petro Gazz even after PNVF title win]
Petro Gazz has gained new energy with coach Koji, along with the return of Myla Pablo, as well as the addition of Ethan Arce, Mary Joy Dacoron, and Michelle Morente.
And with two-time Best Middle Blocker MJ Phillips returning soon, the wall of Petro Gazz has become tougher than ever.
Will this signal the return of the Angels to the PVL throne?
Coach: Koji Tsuzurabara
Departures: Grethcel Soltones, Des Clemente, Heather Guino-o, Dzi Gervacio
Acquisitions: Ethan Arce, Mary Joy Dacoron, Michelle Morente, Myla Pablo, Brooke Van Sickle
AFC lineup
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Outside hitters: Marite Espina, Jonah Sabete, Nicole Tiamzon, Brooke Van Sickle
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Opposite spikers: Myla Pablo, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas
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Middle blockers: Ethan Arce, Mary Joy Dacoron, KC Galdones, Remy Palma, MJ Phillips
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Universal: Marian Buitre, Michelle Morente
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Setters: Djanel Cheng, Ivy Perez, Chie Saet
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Liberos: Babylove Barbon, Jellie Tempiatura
Previous AFC record: 6-5 (6th)
Grethcel Soltones was a valuable piece for the Angels in the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference, being the seventh top scorer of the preliminaries with 152 points, the seventh best digger, and the eighth best receiver.
It would remain to be seen whether the Angels would succeed in filling that void.
Meanwhile, veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas ranked 10th among the best spikers, young libero Babylove Barbon placed fourth among the best diggers, while Djanel Cheng reached sixth among the best setters.
She's the captain now
When Remy Palma was selected as the new team captain of the Angels, she admitted she got overwhelmed with the trust given by Petro Gazz.
Being a captain is not new for Rem, having led her collegiate team for two years. And she knows she wants to lead by example and through a collective effort.
"Kailangan mag-perform at your best, mai-share 'yung experience throughout the years, 'yung personal skills na pwedeng i-share sa ka-position, tapos outside the court andyan 'yung guidance sa mga bata at naghihingi ng guidance kina Mommy Chie, Nang, Djanel," she told One Sports after training.
Funny enough, former teammates have dubbed Palma as the most distracting trash-talker in the league. At the same time, new teammates Ethan Arce and Michelle Morente expressed how much they were looking forward to play with Remy.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Michelle Morente, Mary Joy Dacoron, Ethan Arce dish what fueled them to join Petro Gazz]
Even Brooke Van Sickle said Palma was the first person she got close to.
Upon learning this, Palma covered her face and chuckled as if in embarrassment.
"Everyone is welcome. 'Yun naman dapat," she said.
"I can say 'pag naglalaro, nagte-training, mataas talaga energy ko. Siguro 'yun 'yung nakakabuhay. 'Di mafi-feel 'yung pagod," she explained.
"Excited ako kasi nakikita ko si Brooke, high energy. Meron na kong kasabayan, nakakatuwa," Palma added.
She's also keeping herself humble despite her veteran experience. And she's excited to learn new skills from coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
His first day of court drills with them taught Palma and the Angels the value of time and discipline. And they have embraced his system.
"As a veteran na team, parang mas macha-challenge ka kasi coming to our training, 'di mo alam 'yung mangyayari eh," she reflected. "Mae-excite ka na anong gagawin natin ngayon? Laging bago lahat."
"Pero after the training, masaya kang uuwi kasi may bago kang natutunan," Palma added.
"Ang sarap sa feeling. Kunwari, feeling ko, akala ko eto na 'yung skill ko na pwede kong matutunan," she said, motioning her hand near her head. "Pero hinde, may mag-a-add up pa pala. Madadagdagan 'yung alam ko."
"'Yun 'yung nafi-feel ko kay Coach Koji. 'Di ka pwedeng mag-stop mag-learn. Every day is a learning day."
Coach's corner
It felt like fate with coach Koji and the Angels.
In 2018, he was watching a Petro Gazz game inside the Filoil EcoOil Arena and was impressed with the full venue.
Six years later, here he is in the same venue, training the Angels as their new coach.
"Everyone expects me to do Japanese style. My basics are not Japanese style, but my own original style," he said in a statement posted by Petro Gazz.
"I don't like basic book. I like other volleyball, original volleyball," he told One Sports in English. "Today, I said to the players, always look out [for your] teammates. What do you think? I [ask for] more judgment, quickly first."
It's something the players have appreciated, as they became vocal and lively during training.
"He wants us to use our minds, because volleyball is a very situational game," shared Petro Gazz's newest player Brooke van Sickle.
"He wants us to use our brains and develop a higher IQ as volleyball players," she said.
And he's making efforts to get to know the Angels too. Before meeting the girls, he had a dossier on hand bearing the details of each player. During the first few days, he would arrange one-on-one talks, as he tried to learn their dreams and aspirations.
"I want to understand the player's character. I must make players of good character," he said.
[ALSO READ: PVL: How a full volleyball arena led Koji Tsuzurabara to Petro Gazz]
What they said
Petro Gazz's Best Import and Finals MVP Lindsey Vander Weide was apparently a huge factor in Brooke Van Sickle's road to signing up with the Angels.
"Once I heard I could come here, game over. I want to play here, I want to immerse myself in the culture, get in touch with my family, roots and everything. It's just, I'm blessed," she told One Sports after training.
[ALSO READ: PVL: How Kalei Mau, Lindsey Vander Weide led Brooke Van Sickle to Petro Gazz]
And she immediately felt like the team was family.
"I was a little shy at first. I walk in and instantly they were like, 'Sister!!!'" Van Sickle recounted, laughing. "It was really funny. It made my day for sure."
"This is the fastest I felt really close to a team," she added. "I couldn't be more happy and grateful for the opportunity I get."
For Myla Pablo, returning to the squad in red was an easy decision. It was her first choice, and the Angels were the first to contact her after the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers' disbandment.
"Kaya pinili ko 'yung Petro Gazz talaga kasi familiar na sakin 'yung Petro Gazz eh. Alam ko na 'yung bawat galaw ng mga teammates ko, ugali ng mga teammates [ko],” Pablo told One Sports’ The Game. “Two years din ako sa Petro Gazz, alam ko na din ugali ng mga management namin, mga boss namin."
[ALSO READ: PVL: Petro Gazz return an easy decision, says Myla Pablo]
First bout
The Petro Gazz Angels will do the honors of opening the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday, February 20, when they take on rookie team Strong Group Athletics at the Philsports Arena.
It will be aired at 4 p.m. on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.