For the past four years, Nicole Tiamzon has been the face of the Perlas Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League.
The 26-year-old former UP star led the franchise to three bronze medals while also winning the First Best Outside Spiker in the 2019 Reinforced Conference.
However, Tiamzon’s stay with Perlas — the team that has been her home for the last four PVL seasons — ended last January after the organization decided to take a leave of absence for the 2022 PVL Open Conference.
While it was hard to see her former team go, the outside hitter of Taytay, Rizal is just glad to find a new home in Petro Gazz. She is also grateful for the warm welcome that she received after joining the squad.
“I feel very grateful din kasi ‘pag pasok kasi siyempre first time ko rin to go out of my team talaga,” expressed Tiamzon following the Angels’ 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 25-18 win over the PLDT High Speed Hitters on Monday afternoon.
“Very supportive yung mga seniors sa Petro Gazz and nakakatuwa din kasi talagang ang gagaling nila e. Ang gagaling nila and very friendly lahat e,” she added.
In her second game as an Angel, Tiamzon delivered a game-high 13 points to lead the team to a 2-0 start in Pool B. The win also put Petro Gazz in a very good place to take one of the two twice-to-beat berths in the group.
Petro Gazz head coach Jerry Yee had nothing but good words for his former player, praising Tiamzon for her contributions especially her consistency on the offensive side.
“Si Tiammy maaasahan mo sa opensa e, so yung palo niya, yung pitik ng wrist niya ever since ganiyan naman sa UP ‘yan e. Buti may ganiyan kami e,” said Petro Gazz head coach Jerry Yee, who coached Tiamzon for three seasons in the UAAP with UP.
“Ni-rotate natin siya then yun na nga ang dami na pala niyang contributions. It turns out mas less pa yung errors niya so ayun POG pala siya so ayun, malalim lalim yung rotation natin, maganda yung meron tayong puwedeng hugutin ‘pag ka may problema,” he added.
With the twice-to-beat spot already in front of them, Tiamzon said that the team will go back to basics as they prepare for their final group stage match on Wednesday against last season’s grand finalist in Creamline.
She also added that playing in a hard-fought match against PLDT is another way to help the team improve its composure moving forward.
“Siguro back to basic pa rin kami. Training kami tomorrow, focus naman kami, recover tonight, tibayan namin yung first ball and yung mga erros naman dito ‘pag aaralan namin kasi once na maging consistent lang, makakatulong yun going to the game against Creamline,” said Tiamzon.
“Yung mga ganiyang games, yung talagang up by one lang tapos naghahabol, very important yun para sa composure ng team lalo na sa mga next games very important yun kailangan namin manalo rin.”
