In the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference, the Petro Gazz Angels have built a reputation of torching opponents in a plethora of ways – from punch-packing spikes to heavy-loaded aces and kill blocks.
This was made possible by their two high-scoring reinforcements in Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson.
Though the imports have been at the forefront of Petro Gazz’s attack, the underlying force that fuels the Angels’ high-octane offense has been Djanel Cheng.
“‘Yung decision-making niya nagiging mature. Alam nya kung kailan gagamitin yung locals at kung kailan ang gamit ng mga imports,” said Petro Gazz head coach Arnold Laniog, referring to his playmaker.
For Cheng’s part, she is just glad that her team has been reaping the fruits of their hard work.
“Siyempre, super happy ako ngayon kasi kung ano yung pinaghirapan namin last year siguro nagbubunga siya ngayon.
“Kaya super happy and super blessed kasi nagawa namin yung hindi namin nagawa last year,” the 24-year-old Cheng beamed as Petro Gazz could not make the playoffs in last year’s edition of the Reinforced Conference.
Having seated atop the perch throughout the elimination round, Petro Gazz has also received solid contributions from its locals, the middle blockers Jeanette Panaga and Cherry Nunag in particular.
And the Petro Gazz setter admitted that she had to activate and make the most out of all her teammates, not just the imports, to keep the defense guessing.
“Actually, kasi nung first round naman is okay na siya tapos nung second round medyo na ‘krung- krung’ ako kasi nabasa yung imports so kailangan ko na gumamit ng iba.
“So yun nga yung locals kailangan ko paganahin,” the 5-foot-7 playmaker recounted.
Cheng was instrumental in the Angels’ conquest of the BanKo Perlas Spikers.
After churning out 17 excellent sets in Game One that helped eight Angels barge into the scoring column, the product of Saint Benilde continued her steady setting job in Game Two. She tallied 21 excellent sets to put eight Angels anew on the charts.
Now that the Angels have made their first Finals appearance ever since their inclusion in the tourney last year, Cheng is hungry for a title.
“Siyempre, super eager kasi hindi naman mahina yung team,” the one-time NCAA champion admitted. “I mean may mga tao tao naman na kayang kunin yung finals siguro gagawin na lang namin is training lang ulit and mag-jel pa more and lahat gumana.”
