Myla Pablo thankful as Petro Gazz claims victory after coaching change

Things are starting to look bright for the Petro Gazz Angels as they ended the PVL on Tour preliminaries on a high, beating Choco Mucho in four sets in Candon City on Tuesday to clinch the four-seed in Pool A.

 

Apart from two uncharacteristic sweep losses in their last matches in Ilagan, the Angels are also reeling from the sudden exit of head coach Koji Tsuzurabara — just months after leading them to the PVL All-Filipino crown.

 

With much chatter off of the taraflex, veteran hitter Myla Pablo heaved a sigh of relief as they were able to break through at the expense of the equally struggling Flying Titans.

 

[READ: Petro Gazz snaps skid at expense of Choco Mucho, sets up play-in clash with Akari]

 

“Malaking bagay kasi ‘yung game na 'to and para sa next game namin sa crossover, madala namin ‘yung kumpiyansa namin. And also, I know na maraming mga… I know na maraming malaking problem ‘yung Petro pero siyempre kami kailangan mag-focus lang kami kung ano ‘yung mga sinasabi ng mga coaches namin,” Pablo said after the game.

“And also, nandiyan din naman si coach Bryan Esquivel na na nagga-guide sa amin sa loob ng court.”

 

For the team, it was an added challenge to deal with Tsuzurabara’s exit so late in the preseason.

 

But with their championship calibre strengthening their resolve, Pablo said they just had to go through the motions and deal with the off-court drama when they can afford to.

 

 

“Well, ‘yung kay coach Koji din naman kasi biglaan din naman kasi ‘yun eh, so sabi namin na parang tapusin muna 'tong elimination na 'to against Choco Mucho… and after that sa crossover na mangyayari is kailangan makuha namin ‘yung winning game[plan]. I think parang laglagan na rin ata,” she said.

 

At the end of the day, Pablo said that Tsuzurabara’s impact and learnings will always be with the team even as he takes his talents elsewhere.

 

Having won a championship with him, there is more than a handful of useful things he was able to leave behind with the Angels.

 

“Syempre kung ano ‘yung iniwan ni coach Koji sa amin ng one year, nandiyan pa rin naman siya eh,” said Pablo.

 

“Bali ‘yung presence niya sa loob ng court and ‘yung sinasabi niya sa bawat isa ay nandiyan pa rin naman. Kung ano ‘yung mga usual (na ginagawa) noong conferences, i-enjoy na lang namin,” she added.

 

Petro Gazz has a couple of days to recuperate before they face a do-or-die situation against a dangerous Akari squad when they clash in the knockout play-in on Tuesday, August 5 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.