BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Petro Gazz head coach Arnold Laniog said that Creamline wanted it more following the Angels’ Game Two loss in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference semifinals last Monday.
The 25-27, 22-25, 16-25 sweep at the hands of the Cool Smashers eliminated Petro Gazz from title contention. It also dropped them to the battle for third place.
“Deserve talaga ng Creamline, they want it more ‘yung makapunta sa finals compared doon sa mga players namin. Kami, we want naman talaga na manalo. But ‘yung mananalo diyan ‘yung gusto talagang mas may gusto,” rued Laniog.
“Ayon, talagang kinulang talaga sa trabaho, yung mga players ko — especially ngayon comparing kahapon — eh hindi nakaperform doon sa responsibility nila sa loob.“
The College of Saint Benilde tactician also cited the tough Game One loss the day before. He believes it played huge a factor in the team’s subpar performance in their do-or-die Game Two.
Petro Gazz had all the chance to secure the series opener, having a 2-1 advantage. Then Creamline gutted out a 27-29, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 16-14 win on the back of Tots Carlos’ heroics.
The Angels fought head-to-head against the Cool Smashers in the opening of Game Two, but the team’s morale went down after that set one loss.
“Kumbaga everyday game talagang ang bigat sa katawan. Lahat naman ng players bumigat na eh,” shared Laniog.
“Talagang ramdam talaga ng players ko ‘yung bigat ng katawan plus ‘yung kahapon na sayang eh, ‘di man na-carry dito, pero ‘di talaga maiwasan eh. Tingin ko meron pa ring effect talaga, although sinabihan naman namin ‘yung mga players na kalimutan na ‘yun. But credit talaga sa Creamline.”
Despite falling short of their goal of winning the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference title, Laniog felt happy with the potential that his squad showed despite the limited time that they prepared.
During the off-season, Petro Gazz retooled by signing nine players in Ces Molina, Grethcel Soltones, Ivy Perez, Jerrili Malabanan, Kath Arado, Ria Meneses, Mean Mendrez, Remy Palma, Seth Rodriguez, and Myla Pablo.
Even if Petro Gazz had a loaded lineup, the short preparation time doomed them. That is why Laniog believes that the Angels have yet to reach their peak.
“Given na one month kami nag-prepare, siguro kami ‘yung isa sa team na medyo late na naka-ensayo. Pero sabi ko nga doon sa one and a half month na nag-prepare kami, dahil mga bago nga ‘to, doon lang kami nagkakilala. Tapos padating dito, mas nakilala pa namin ‘yung bawat isa compared from the time na nagkita kami,” shared Laniog.
He added, “At least kahit ‘di ‘man namin nakita’ yung goal namin pero, in terms of performance namin as a team, nakita namin ‘yung potential. Pero hindi ganun ka-consistent kasi nga dahil bago lang kaming magkakasama.
“Kasi kahit sabihin nating mga beterano ‘yan, pero kung ‘yung jelling talaga… Lalo na sa mga pukpukan, doon naman nade-develop ‘yung team eh. So hopefully next season mas makapag-prepare pa kami ng mas mahaba.”
