Last season, Petron was the most dominant team in the Philippine Superliga.
Touting superstars Aby Maraño, Rachel Daquis, and Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Petron swept the All-Filipino Conference with little resistance. But Maraño and Daquis have moved on to other teams while Santiago-Manabat is currently pregnant with her first child.
Decorated libero Jen Reyes, starting setter AZ Masangkay, team captain Maica Morada, and explosive winger Ces Molina remains of their championship core.
While many see a weaker Petron squad, head coach George Pascua views his current roster as a fresh start.
CJ Rosario was drafted as the 2nd overall pick in the 2016 PSL Draft
To fill in the gaps, Petron added veterans Sheila Pineda and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, drafted promising middle hitter CJ Rosario, and signed FEU standouts Bernadeth Pons, Remy Palma, and Kyle Negrito.
Bannered by new faces, Pascua keeps his confidence, insisting his squad is still a top contender.
“Though iba yung composition ng team namin, kami pa rin ang defending champions – ina-eye pa rin kami ng ibang team. We will do our best na defend namin yung title namin,” Pascua told Tiebreaker Times. “As much as possible kasi, ayaw kong sinsabi sa kanila na kami yung defending champion.”
“So more on motivation lang. Dinadaan namin sa training para magstep-up yung lahat. Sa training ka kasi magbabase kung hanggang saan yung kakayanin namin. So far, mga nasa 80% pa lang kami ng kailangan para maachevice yung goal namin,” he continued.
Pascua finds that his current players are easier to manage and teach, citing their youth and lack of ego.
“Younger team kami. Siyempre kapag bata, may willingness to learn,” he said with optimism. “Kapag medyo may edad na, may ego na so mahirap na turuan. Although, competitive pa rin naman.”
The addition of FEU’s collegiate players, Pascua thought, filled in a lot of his problematic positions.
Pons gives him a dynamic winger with virtually no weakness, Palma adds another option in the middle, while Negrito works as backup playmaker who can defend the net when rotated to the front row.
Still, Pascua isn’t expecting his team to be as dominant as last season as other teams have beefed up their roster. The mentor knows that he needs to step up his famed preparation and training for Petron to bag another championship.
“Siyempre ngayon iba na ang players. Mahirap ulitin yung last year. Ang tanging goal lang namin talaga is ma-defend yung title namin,” he closed.
Petron opens their season against the Foton Tolander on Saturday, 4:00 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
