PERFECT MIX
In the all-important Game 1 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference, Petro Gazz’s first championship shot in two years, coach Koji Tsuzurabara opted to use the oldest weapon in his arsenal.
And Chie Saet did not shy away from the heavy task handed to him by the Japanese mentor, guiding the Angels in taking the first step to a much-awaited title.
“It’s such a huge responsibility, but I am so happy,” Saet told the Inquirer in Filipino as the din of the series-opening win celebration died down at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “This is the time that the chance is given to me. Of course, I’ll grab it.”
“I respect [Tsuzurabara] and [I appreciate] the respect he gives every one of us because having a Japanese coach, I found it hard to earn his trust. But he’s here fully trusting us,” she added. “I am doing all my best to show him that I still have something to offer.”
The 40-year-old playmaker delivered 20 excellent sets to help the Angels avoid a meltdown against Creamline, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10, on Tuesday night.
It’s only the first part of Petro Gazz’s goal to add an all-Filipino hardware to its trophy case, and the Angels know it won’t get easier as they expect a retaliation from the hard-knuckled Cool Smashers in Game 2.
“We will always be challengers and … on Thursday, we should be 400 to 500 percent [ready] to win Game 2,” Saet said, echoing the usual line of Tsuzurabara on his players needing to play beyond their best.
“I am so happy [to be within a win of a title] because we’ve been dreaming of this,” she added.
‘Thirsty’
Petro Gazz last reached a championship bout in the same conference back in 2023 under former coach Oliver Almadro.
The Angels, who have won two Reinforced Conference, still have a lot of the same names from that roster, but now they have power hitter Brooke Van Sickle backstopping those experienced cogs in her first look at a championship.
Making the old work very well with the new is Saet, who shared her exchanges on the floor with the Filipino American hitter.
“Whenever I tell Brooke to get the point, she will get the point for me. She would kill the ball 100 percent,” the veteran setter said.
“We are so thirsty [for a crown] that’s probably why we are having good results and [why we] have this chance,” Saet added. “Slowly, we will have a good experience and I hope it continues.”
The Angels are expecting a similar hard-fought Game 2—maybe even a tighter matchup—but they plan on banking once again on the mental toughness they showed to get ahead of Creamline.
“We need to condition the mental [aspect of our game] because like what coach said, in terms of skills, we are the same. Though we know that Creamline is a younger team than us, the level of play is equal since we are both veteran teams here,” Saet said. “Even in our win earlier, I think it’s our mental skill that helped us.
“We’ll double it, even triple it [to be ready] if, like this game, we also go five sets. [W]e need to have a much better mindset.”
