by Kristel Satumbaga
Petro Gazz coach Jerry Yee hopes his team's cohesion will be their main strength in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, which fires off in May.
“Hopefully, the girls can get along with that,” said Yee.
The Petro Gazz Angels will be composed of former La Salle and College of St. Benilde standouts and will be supported by imports Kadi Kullerkann from Estonia and Anastasiia Trach from Ukraine.
Spiker Paneng Mercado and setter Chie Saet, who were once members of champion team La Salle, spearhead the Angels along with fellow former Lady Spikers Ciene Cruz and Wensh Tiu.
Joining them are Djanel Cheng, Rachel Austero, Rica Enclona and Ranya Musa – members of the 2016 NCAA women’s volleyball champion team St. Benilde.
“May adjustment pa rin pero kampante naman kami sa isa’t isa,” said Saet, who bannered La Salle into a three-peat title feat from 2006 to 2008.
“I’m excited to start again with a new team kasi makikita ko yung growth namin from the start,” added Mercado, who once played in the Philippine Superliga.
Also in the lineup are former National University player Kai Nepomuceno, Alyssa Layug of Technological Institute of the Philippines, and Mary Anne Mendrez of the University of the East.
Yee said they have been playing friendly matches with different teams to beef up their preparations for the upcoming conference.
“Ubusan na nga na ng tuneup games,” said Yee.
Petro Gazz will be competing against BaliPure, Creamline, Tacloban, BanKo Perlas, PayMaya and Pocari-Air Force.