The Petro Gazz Angels eye no less than to extend their reign in the Premier Volleyball League when the Open Conference fires off in February next year.
Though the Angels are still basking on their recent Reinforced Conference title feat via a sweep against the Cignal HD Spikers, Petro Gazz coach Rald Ricafort couldn’t help but think of their next strategy especially since the next battle would be all-Filipino.
“Mabigat talaga ang laban sa all-Filipino, kasi yung ibang teams masyadong all-Star na talaga (ang lineup),” Ricafort said.
“Like Creamline, yung mga Rebisco teams, F2 Logistics. Pero lumalaban pa rin naman kami, kumbaga, kaunting trabaho pa talaga siguro at soon, makaka-sungkit uli kami, pati sa all-Filipino.”
Ricafort knew the daunting task ahead, given their chief rivals’ powerhouse rosters, but he believes the capabilities of his stalwarts particularly on how they jelled together with import Lindsey Vander Weide in nailing the Reinforced Conference crown.
And while Vander Weide, who won the Best Import and Finals MVP awards, was a big help in their title campaign, Ricafort also relied on veteran locals like Aiza Pontillas, Djanel Cheng, MJ Phillips, Myla Pablo and Remy Palma.
“Thankful kami kasi marami kaming players na talagang naging ‘sponge.’ So kung ano yung in-instruct mo, yung ang gagawin. Thankful kami sa tiwala nila dahil ang bilis mag-work ng team kasi willing lahat na magtrabaho at open sa lahat ng instructions,” said Ricafort.
Toughening up their team chemistry would be their goal as far as Ricarfort is concerned.
“Kailangan i-work out pa rin talaga yung sistema na binibigay sa mga locals. Unti-unti, nakukuha naman namin,” said Ricafort.