The Petro Gazz Angels enter into a transition period after the sudden exit of head coach Koji Tsuzurabara during the PVL on Tour.
All-Filipino Conference champions Petro Gazz Angels are choosing to focus on the positives even as they suffered an early exit in the PVL on Tour, where they were unceremoniously dumped in three sets by the Akari Chargers in the knockout play-ins on Tuesday.
As they transition into a new era following the sudden exit of former head coach Koji Tsuzurabara, the Angels are licking their wounds as they also deal with the unavailability of Alas Pilipinas players Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips.
For interim coach Brian Esquibel, the Angels played gallantly amid all the circumstances, even as they fell short of their bigger goals in the preseason tournament.
[READ: Akari shines bright against Petro Gazz, advances to PVL on Tour quarterfinals]
“Nakaka-proud kasi nakita mo naman na naglalaro sila mang maayos. Nandu’n 'yung teamwork. Talaga lang hindi nag-favor sa’min yung last game,” said Esquibel.
“Pero, nakita mo naman, coming from the three straight losses, ito kami ngayon. Trying pa rin 'yung best ng team. Team effort and teamwork para ipakita sa volleyball fans na nandun pa rin yung puso ng Petro Gazz na kampeon,” he added.
The Angels had hit their stride earlier this year, when they proved naysayers wrong with their first-ever All-Filipino crown.
But hit with the absence of Van Sickle and Phillips, the Angels just couldn’t recover in time and struggled against more complete teams along with budding rookies from the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft.
Nevertheless, Esquibel believes that there is much to gain for the long-term future of Petro Gazz.
When it comes to depth, the Angels have realized and are working towards being more capable, even without the likes of Van Sickle and Phillips.
“Siyempre, malaking lessons ‘to individually [para samin]. Makikita mo na kahit wala 'yung mga star player namin is na pe-perform sila. 'Yan ang importante. Nakikita mo ang improvement pa rin,” he said.
“Although big challenge sa kanila 'yung pagpapalit namin ng bagong coach. Siyempre, nandun pa rin naman kami sa system ni coach Koji. Pero syempre, kailangan namin bumawi pa rin.”
The Angels are now looking forward to the next conference where they hope to recover after a sub-par showing on the PVL on Tour.
“Ibang Petro Gazz Angels na makikita natin kasi siyempre ang darating na conference is Reinforced. So meron pa tayong isa ulit na maaasahan bukod si Myla. Pero lahat kami magtatrabaho like Brooke, MJ and 'yung mga locals natin is kailangan tumulong,” he said.