HISTORY hasn’t been on Petro Gazz's side when it comes to matchups with its longtime Premier Volleyball League (PVL) rival Creamline, the defending champion.
Before the Angels’ five-set fightback win in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Saturday, 15-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-19, 15-13, they’ve lost 17 of their last 18 PVL games against the Cool Smashers. And in 28 previous meetings since 2018, Petro Gazz only won five times — twice in the elimination round and the first of which also in five sets.
READ: Bea de Leon says she'd trade best Creamline game for a win
This is the reason why Petro Gazz's triumph meant more to skipper Remy Palma. This is her first victory against Creamline in 14 games since joining the team in 2021.
Knowing what it meant to take on not only the Cool Smashers but also their legions of fans, Palma knew that such a match was not for the faint of heart. To win, she knew they had to play ‘better than their best.’
“Every win po namin sa kanila (Creamline) is masarap sa pakiramdam. Malaking experience, magandang experience. Ako, for the past four years, every time na kalaban ko sila, iba dapat ‘yung mindset mo," she said.
"Kung nag-mamindset ka na ‘ito ‘yung gagawin mo,’ sa kanila kasi kailangan ‘yung pinaka-the best mong game, ‘yun ‘yung gagawin mo kasi lahat sila kailangan mong bantayan, lahat sila pwedeng maka-score.
“Kami, as sinasabi nga na rival kami, it’s a matter of patibayan talaga ng puso. ‘Pag sila ‘yung kalaban mo, kailangan matibay ‘yung puso mo, kailangan mentally tough ka, kailangan ready ka sa lahat ng pwedeng mangyari.
"Kumbaga dapat lahat baon mo eh, pati cabinet mo baunin mo na. Nakakatawa man pero ganun talaga eh, ganun ‘yung kailangan mong i-mindset kapag sila ‘yung kalaban mo,” said Palma.
No chances wasted
Besides having to contend with Creamline's superior talent, Palma and her teammates also had to deal with a huge crowd that descended at the Sta. Rosa Gym in Laguna, majority of whom root for the Cool Smashers. In this case, 6,149 turned out to watch the game and they were clapping, shouting and encouraging Creamline.
“We know naman Creamline, they have a big fanbase. Also out-of-town game pa tayo so lahat talaga ng tao mag-eexpect and also aabangan talaga ‘yung game namin.
“Lagi ko naman din silang ni-reremind na nasa sa’tin naman kung magpapaapekto tayo sa crowd, kung ma-ppressure tayo. Pressure is normal pero ang tanong dun is kung paano mo siya i-hahandle. Ang daming times na hindi na kami magkarinigan but we chose to stay focused, we chose to stay at the present time kung ano ‘yung nangyayari sa loob,” said Palma.
“‘Pag nagkakaroon kami ng chance, sige hinga lang. Kailangan lang naming makabalik sa present and mag-reset lang palagi. ‘Pag nakaka-score naman po kami, kahit papano may nag-iingay din po.
“Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm, yes. But at the end of the day, if ikaw ‘yung magpapa-apekto, ikaw rin naman ‘yung matatalo. Kami, ang dami naming experiences na malaking crowd so parang ikaw, nasa sayo na lang kung paano mo babaunin ‘yung experiences — kung magpapatalo ka sa ingay ng crowd o mas lalagyan mo ng puso and also magiging mentally tough ka," Palma ssaid.
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