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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Angels to give '200 percent' in finals vs Cool Smashers

Angels to give '200 percent' in finals vs Cool Smashers

Published Apr 6, 2025 04:46 am

At A Glance

  • For Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara, there's no time to slow down now that the All-Filipino Conference crown is within reach once again. After all, they have been in this familiar territory three times.

For Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara, there’s no time to slow down now that the All-Filipino Conference crown is within reach once again. After all, they have been in this familiar territory three times.

PVL AFC 25 Akari vs. Petrogazz - -0298.jpg
Petro Gazz seeks its first All-Filipino Conference title against Creamline. (PVL Images)

But in those three All-Filipino finals appearances, the Angels fell short to clinch that trophy -- incidentally, against the same powerhouse rival in the Creamline Cool Smashers.

Tsuzurabara and the Angels wanted a different storyline this time.

“If we gave our 100 percent to be where we are now, we must give 200 percent in the finals,” said Tsuzurabara moments after he and his stalwarts swept their semifinal assignments -- the last, against Akari in straight sets -- for a place in the best-of-three championship series.

They knew the tough task that lay ahead in facing Creamline, having been in a similar situation in 2019, 2022 and 2023, only to lose in the end. But Petro Gazz is determined not to waste this new opportunity this time.

“Ang haba nitong conference na to at pinagtrabahuhan namin nang maayos para makarating dito. Nasa finals na kami, bibitawan pa ba namin ito?” said Myla Pablo, whose vintage plays were instrumental in the crucial phase of their campaign.

Fil-Am Brooke Van Sickle, who is in her first finals stint, echoed the sentiment and looked at the silver lining of the long, arduous five-month conference.

“It has been a long conference, but I think it allowed us to get to know more about each other and build that team chemistry. We have been pushing each other the whole time, non-stop. To be where we are right now is amazing,” Van Sickle said.

For Petro Gazz, it would take more than flaunting their team chemistry and determination to win. It would be like facing Goliath, with Creamline parading not only its depth and experience, but all its six All-Filipino Conference trophies. The Cool Smashers, in particular, boast of talents like Alyssa Valdez, Bernadeth Pons and Tots Carlos, to name a few.

“Everybody wants it. Everybody’s working hard for the championship. It’s just who would be working harder and performing better at crunch time,” Van Sickle said.

Game 1 is set on Tuesday, April 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Angels seeking to draw the first blood. Game 2 is set Thursday, April 10, at the same venue, and Game 3, if necessary, is on Saturday, April 12.

Related Tags

Creamline Cool Smashers Petro Gazz Angels pvl all filipino conference
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