ROUGHLY two weeks before the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) opens its 2024 season, it's 12 teams are busy with the final touches of their buildup.
For two-time PVL champions Petro Gazz Angels, it has only been 10 days since the squad first trained as a full unit with their new Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara and five offseason signings in Fil-American ace Brooke Van Sickle, returning Angel and two-time PVL MVP Myla Pablo, former PLDT hotshot Mich Morente, and ex-F2 Logistics aces Ethan Arce and Joy Dacoron.
READ: PNVF brings back men's and women's Champions League
However, a rather small window to prepare for the PVL season-opener doesn't worry Petro Gazz mainstay and 2023 First All-Filipino Conference's best middle blocker Remy Palma one bit, now that they'll get their first taste of action as a new unit in the 2024 PNVF Champions League.
"We’re very happy po sa lahat po ng na-acquire naming players. Regarding naman sa transition ng team namin, siyempre we’re working on it kasi sabi nga po ni Coach Koji (Tsuzurabara), we’re only 10 days with him," Palma said during the 2024 PNVF Champions League press launch on Friday morning.
One thing, in particular, which stood out for Palma is Tsuzurabara's 'own style of teaching' — one that the Angels are slowly acquainting themselves to in their ongoing 'adjustment period.'
"Lahat po ng training na ginagawa namin while we’re on the adjustment period, I can say na sa mga darating pa po na araw, mas ma-aadapt pa po namin lahat ‘yung tinuturo ni Coach Koji (kaya) I’m looking forward also to play well, to do better kasi nga sobrang nakakatuwa po lahat nu’ng tinuturo sa amin ni Coach Koji. He has his own style of teaching us to do better and play better kaya sobrang excited kami," said Palma.
No slowing down for Petro Gazz
Only 10 days separate the PNVF finale, should Petro Gazz reach the title game on February 10, from the projected opening day of PVL action on Feb. 20.
And despite the inherent injury risks in preseason tournaments, more so with little time left before the season-opening conference, Palma vowed that the Angels will not skip a single beat and 'compete at the highest level.'
"Parang mahirap naman po sabihin na maglalaro ka just to play. Hindi naman din po ‘yun ‘yung prinsipyo namin kasi whenever you compete in a game, you compete to the highest level that you can."
Palma added: "For us, this will be a good experience coming to the PVL season. ‘Yun po, it will be a competitive league for us (PNVF Champions League) so masasabi ko lang na magiging mataas na level pa rin po ‘yung kailangan naming laruin."
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