MJ Phillips’ KOVO exemption elevates Petro Gazz’s semifinal aspirations

Petro Gazz received a massive boost with middle blocker MJ Phillips returning to action just days ahead of the post-season of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

Phillips provided the Angels with a huge lift in her first game back, scoring crucial points in the team’s tight, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 victory over Nxled to close out the preliminaries on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.

She ended up with 11 points on nine attacks, a block, and an ace.

Thanks to that, Petro Gazz secured the number-one spot for the first time since the 2019 Reinforced Conference. They own a 9-2 record, armed with a league-high 28 points.

Phillips said that playing in the final game of the elimination round is very important to her since this gave her a chance to catch up the team’s system under Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara.

“This game was very important to me ’cause I just needed a trial run to see how I work with the team and the system and everything. I was a little shaky, but we’re gonna get there with more practice,” said the former PVL Best Middle Blocker.

The 28-year-old middle blocker also won’t have to miss more time with the Angels as she no longer has to make an appearance in the upcoming Korean V-League Asian Quota combine.

This is because she already played with the Gwangju AI Peppers in the recent season.

“For the players that already played in the KOVO, we don’t need to attend the tryouts. So only the players that are newcomers, so I’ll still be here,” Phillips shared.

Phillips hopes that the team can leave behind their slow performance against the Chameleons as they approach the round-robin semis.

There, they will first face the Mylene Paat-less Chery Tiggo on Tuesday.

“It feels good to be back, honestly. Seeing familiar faces but also seeing new faces as well. It’s been an adjustment, giving… Like the new system and some new players like how to figure out how to work with them on the court,” she said.

“Our focus wasn’t there, I would say today, but we’re gonna come back stronger in the semis and give a good fight.”