AFTER jumping ships and switching jerseys, Djanel Cheng is glad to find her way back home to Petro Gazz.
In a revamped Angels roster in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference, Cheng is one of the four Angels from the original championship team back in 2019.
And the former College of St. Benilde standout couldn't be any happier to hoist the championship trophy once more this time around.
Djanel Cheng back to 'happy place'
"Ang dami ko ng lipat tapos bumabalik balik pa rin talaga dito so isa sa happy place ko 'to," Cheng said as she steered the Angels to a sweep of Cignal in the Finals series.
Cheng, along with fellow setter Chi Saet, opposite spiker Jonah Sabete and libero Cienne Cruz, led the Angels to their first-ever PVL Reinforced trophy three years ago.
The 28-year-old Cheng then joined Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors in 2020 and played in the 2021 Open Conference in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. After only one tournament, the Lady Realtors took a leave of absence prompting Petro Gazz to sign the setter once again in 2022.
But this championship was sweeter than the first - as Cheng became instrumental in Petro Gazz's road to the crown after starting for the Angels this conference.
"Kay Cheng, personally 'yung goal ko na bigyan siya ng chance ulit dito sa ganitong conference... So kahit hindi siya ganoong nagamit last conference, alam namin na ready pa rin siya lalo dito sa conference na 'to," head coach Rald Ricafort said of her playmaker.
"So happy kami na 'yung binigay sa kanya na break, talagang nagawa niya 'yung role niya."
Cheng did not disappoint Ricarfort, as she averaged 4.23 excellent sets per set after the elimination round - just behind the tournament's best setter Jia De Guzman.
Her excellent playmaking skills also led to the balanced offense of Petro Gazz throughout the conference, highlighted by four Angels' double-digit output in Game Two on Tuesday - Lindsey Vander Weide with 19 points, Rem Palma with 18, Myla Pablo with 17, and MJ Phillips with 12, while Cheng finished with 26 excellent sets - almost triple of Cignal's Gel Cayuna (9).
For now, Cheng will take her well-deserved break after a year-long volleyball action.
"Masaya na nakuha ulit 'yung championship. Siguro, ang pinaka nangingibabaw kasi sa akin 'yung pahinga ngayon," she said.
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