Two-time V-League champions Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors were bound to lose a huge chunk of their winning foundations when former team captain Michele Gumabao bolted to a different league.
But the Lady Warriors found an apt replacement in Jeanette Panaga.
The former College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazer does not want to be considered a replacement to Gumabao — they play different positions and have totally different personalities.
But even she can’t deny that her addition has buoyed Pocari Sweat in several matches in the on-going PVL Reinforced Conference.
Panaga, who led Saint Benilde to their first and only NCAA title in Season 91, averages nearly 12 points a match alongside two blocks and an ace. Her consistent play was pivotal in Pocari Sweat salvaging their 0-2 start to a 3-2 first round record.
The 22-year-old knows she can’t replace Gumabao’s leadership (she wears Gumabao’s former number 7 because there’s no other number available); she is simply trying to produce what the Lady Warriors need to win another title.
“Ang gusto ko lang naman talaga is matulungan ang team namin na mag-champion ulet. ‘Yun ‘yung dahilan kung bakit ako pumunta dito para makapag-champion,” the 5-foot-11 middle blocker told Tiebreaker Times.
“Very thankful ako kasi madali akong nakasama sa mga teammates ko. Hopefully, mag-tuloy-tuloy na ‘to para sa amin.”
