By: Ohmer Bautista
Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson may have been the strong winds underneath the Petro Gazz Angels’ wings, but Jeanette Panaga has proven that the locals are the ones that will propel the team to the next level.
This was most evident, Wednesday afternoon, when the prolific duo of Salas and Johnson heated up the engine for Petro Gazz while Panaga and the rest of the locals provided the fuel as the Angels ran roughshod over Bali Pure to extend their unbeaten streak to four.
“Very happy kami na lahat nag-contribute.
“Pinagaaralan talaga namin ‘yung bawat game para mas pagbubutihin namin na manalo kami,” Panaga beamed moments after pouring in 11 points spiked by three blocks in the Angels’ three-set drubbing of Bali Pure.
While Panaga knows that their foreign reinforcements are more than capable of carrying the scoring cudgels, she insists that the team will reap the benefits even more if the locals will also carry the load and deliver the goods.
“Mindset namin ay Reinforced ‘to so talagang gagawa ‘yung mga imports namin pero siyempre hindi naman sila dapat palagi ‘yung gagawa,” the three-time PVL Best Blocker exclaimed.
“Kami ring local, support kami para mas maganda ‘yung ipakita ng team.”
Petro Gazz currently sits atop the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference perch with a pristine 4-0 win-loss record. But more than being a part of a high-caliber team, the middle blocker simply savors the trust that she has gained from her teammates.
For a fact, it was December last year when Panaga acquired her new wings as an Angel after deciding to turn a new chapter in her career, going from being a Pocari Sweat Lady Warrior to a Petro Gazz Angel.
Still, despite having played with the main unit for only a short amount time, Panaga has already clawed her niche in her new home.
“Sobrang happy ako kasi binigyan nila ako ng tiwala para makapagperform sa team ng Petro Gazz.”
