PETRO Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara took pride in facing against his Japanese compatriot in Akari’s Taka Minowa in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
Koji-san had the last laugh on Thursday at the Big Dome as the Angels completed a three-game sweep of single-round robin play at the Chargers’ expense, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18.
It effectively became Tsuzurabara’s first PVL Finals appearance in over a year at the helm for Petro Gazz.
READ: Petro Gazz perfects PVL semis to book first finals seat
But apart from the pursuit of championship glory, Tsuzurabara and Minowa share a strong friendship off the taraflex.
Away from the glitz and glamour of the PVL, the two Japanese coaches would go out and spend time with each other to talk all things volleyball.
And it’s not just the sport per se that ties them together.
It’s their shared desire to be of great help to the continuous ascent of Philippine volleyball as two foreign coaches who were given the opportunity to practice their craft away from their powerhouse sporting nation.
“I appreciate Akari under coach Taka (Minowa). Coach Taka is my good friend. Taka’s a good coach also. We always discuss with Coach Taka all about Philippine volleyball,” Tsuzurabara said.
“(We know that) we have to contribute to Philippine volleyball. Today, we’re happy to get a game with two Japanese coaches,” he added.
While coach Koji is off to his first PVL Finals, coach Taka has his sights set on a second-straight podium finish for Akari in the battle for third against either Choco Mucho or Creamline.
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