MYLA Pablo admitted being taken aback by the shock exit of former Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara, who parted ways with the PVL All-Filipino defending champions last week.
While it was a sudden development that struck the Angels midway through the ongoing PVL On Tour, she and her teammates are choosing to take in stride rather than be distracted by it.
READ Coach Koji on sudden exit: 'I have no confidence in Petro Gazz'
“I know na may malaking problem ‘yung Petro, pero siyempre kami, kailangan mag-focus lang kami kung ano ‘yung mga sinasabi ng mga coaches namin,” Pablo said.
“‘Yung kay coach Koji din naman kasi, biglaan din naman kasi ‘yun eh. Sabi namin na tapusin muna ‘tong elimination na ‘to against Choco Mucho. After that, sa crossover [knockout round] na mangyayari, kailangan makuha namin ‘yung win kasi laglagan na rin."
Coach Koji's winning legacy lives on
Pablo also believes that the Angels won’t be turning the page on Tsuzurabara’s championship legacy altogether, even as interim coach Brian Esquibel takes over the reins.
As far as she’s concerned, it remains imperative for Petro Gazz to stick to the winning imprints left by the Japanese tactician the rest of the way.
“Kung ano ‘yung iniwan ni coach Koji sa amin ng one year, nandyan pa rin naman siya eh,” she added.
“‘Yung presence niya sa loob ng court and ‘yung sinasabi niya sa bawat isa, nandyan pa rin naman. Kung ano ‘yung mga usual na ginagawa nu’ng [huling] conferences, ine-enjoy pa rin namin.
“Nandyan din naman si coach Brian [Esquibel] na nag-guide sa amin sa loob ng court.”
Esquibel, Tsuzurabara’s immediate successor, was tight-lipped on how the coaching change went down and echoed Pablo’s sentiments on staying in the present.
“I’m not the right person na magsalita para dito,” he said.
“Ako naman, gagawin ko ‘yung trabaho na ibinigay sa akin ng Petro Gazz to handle this team sa ‘On Tour.’”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
