BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Heading to the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference bubble here in Ilocos Norte, Petro Gazz head coach Arnold Laniog only asked for one thing from his star-studded squad.
And that is to submit themselves to the team and nothing more.
To his delight, the team — composed of big-name stars such as Myla Pablo, Ces Molina, Grethcel Soltones, Ria Meneses, Remy Palma, and Kath Arado — did what they are told.
For that, he’s eternally grateful.
“So sabi ko nga, hiningi ko lang na i-submit nila yung mga sarili nila, magpacoach lang sila nang maayos, makinig lang sila nang maayos, in the future mas magiging maganda yung team namin,” expressed Laniog, after his squad clinched the bronze medal against Choco Mucho on Thursday.
“Naintindihan nila, lahat nag submit sa bawat isa. Sabi ko nga, lahat individually mga star player ‘yan sa mga diffetent teams nila pero ‘pag dito ang priority natin as a team, play tayo para sa isa’t isa, sa mga sumusuporta sa atin, not only for ourselves,” he added.
Petro Gazz ended the eliminations at fourth place with a 6-3 record.
Come the semifinals, the Angels showed their complete arsenal against Creamline, dragging the league-leaders to a heartstopping five-setter in Game One, before eventually bowing out of the title race in Game Two.
Still, the team persevered in the bronze medal match, sweeping the once-mighty Choco Much to bag third place.
“From doon sa bubble training namin going here ang dami naming natutunan sa bawat isa, mas nakilala namin ang bawat isa, mas naintindihan na namin yung ugali ng bawat isa na in the future mas magiging madali para sa amin ‘pag nakaharap ulit namin yung mga kalaban for next season,” said Laniog.
“Siguro mas magiging prepared kami as a group na. So ayun, with this experience mas tumibay yung relationship ng bawat isa towards the end ng tournament yun yung pinakaimportante. Hindi ‘man kami nakapunta sa finals, yung bronze ang laking bagay para sa amin na nakuha namin na babalik kami ng Manila na sulit lahat ng pinaghirapan namin,” he added.
According to Laniog, all the hardships that came their way in this bubble conference, the squad became more close with each other.
And it molded them to become a better team, better than before they entered the league.
Now armed with a bond stronger than ever, Petro Gazz will first take its much-needed rest before continuing the spark that they had in the PVL bubble.
“Pinakaimportante yung makapagpahinga talaga kasi nga limited time yung preparation namin dito. Piniga talaga namin kung hanggang saan namin sila mapipiga physically but ‘pag dating namin dito talaga hindi enough e. Coming doon sa mahabang bakasyon, tapos biglang ganito yung schedule dahil ‘di naman natin kontrolado yung mga nangyayari kaya naging sunod sunod,” said the PVL champion coach.
“Importante yung recovery ng katawan. Tapos once naka-recover yun hopefully makabalik na ulit yung mga players namin sa conditioning nila kasi yun yung importanteng mabawi talaga. Every assessment namin nakita na namin yung weakness namin na pag dating sa next conference e possible na hindi na mangyayari kasi magiging aware na kami.”
