JEANETTE Panaga believes that the PetroGazz locals became more confident because of the tremendous showing of imports Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Reinforced Conference.
Panaga had a chance to share the spotlight with the two high-scoring imports as she put up 11 points and delivered the Angels’ fourth straight victory after sweeping BaliPure Water Defenders on Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The former College of Saint Benilde star said that the energy of Salas and Johnson are infectious that’s why all locals are oozing with confidence too with PetroGazz winning all four of their matches so far.
“One hundred percent talaga yung nakukuha naming confidence sa imports,” Panaga said.
“Ang mindset namin Reinforced Conference ito so talagang gagawa yung mga imports namin,” she added. “Pero siyempre, hindi naman sila palagi yung gagawa, kami ring local support kami para mas maganda yung ipakita ng team.”
The Angels are always showing a full-tank offense emerging as the No.1 spiking team in the league with 41.38 percent success rate powered by Salas and Johnson, who are the top two scorers of the league averaging 18.8 and 15.5 points per game, respectively.
Although the Angels are heavily relying on the scoring loads of the imports and just the third-best blocking team with 1.83 kill block per set behind BanKo (2.70) and Motolite (2.42), PetroGazz head coach Arnold Laniog is attributing their success to Panaga and other middle blockers Cherry Nunag and Cai Baloaloa.
“Malaking bagay talaga ang mga middles,” said Laniog, who has been known for coaching teams with strong middle blockers like College of Saint Benilde and La Salle’s men’s team. “Sa side ko talaga ang focus ko is maging blocking team kami kaya nga nandyan si Pangs malaking bagay para sa team.”
PetroGazz is just a win shy of sweeping the first round facing Pacifictown-Army over the weekend and with another round robin coming up.
Panaga, the league’s reigning 1st Best Middle blocker, promises to keep on contributing to give back to the Angels, who signed and trusted her from the disbanded Pocari Sweat-Air Force.
“Sobrang happy ako kasi binigyan nila ako ng tiwala para makapagperform,” Panaga said. “I’m very happy na kami lahat nagcocontribute at pinagaaralan talaga namin yung bawat game para mas pagbubutihin namin na manalo kami.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph