OUT to beef up its roster, reigning All-Filipino Conference champion Petro Gazz is looking forward to the PVL rookie Draft, with the Angeles eyeing a promising talent to add to their already formidable squad.
This year’s Draft has 57 participants, higher than last year’s 47, with three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen leading the rookie hopefuls.
The Koji Tsuzuraba-mentored Petro Gazz side will be the 11th team to pick in the on Sunday, June 8, at the Novotel Manila Araneta City, but assistant coach Cha Cruz-Behag believes that the Angels can still land a quality player.
“Siyempre, we’re really happy na nakikita natin na talagang padami nang padami, ibig sabihin the quality of competition is also getting high,” Cruz-Behag said. “So, exciting, exciting. Not just for us but siyempre doon sa mga pipili ng mga mauuna sa amin.“First, we’re looking for a player na talagang may potential, very coachable, and talagang alam namin mag-bo-bolster ng team namin,” she added.
Cruz-Behag, Tsuzurabara and the rest of the team’s coaching staff were present during Day 2 of the Draft Combine over the weekend.
“Right now, as much as, we want to choose a specific position, at the end of the day we’re at No. 11 So, somehow pagdating na sa drafting doon na lang din kami pipili,” the charismatic former volleybelle-turned-coach said.
“But we’re here now to familiarize ourselves especially coach Koji na makita niya kung sino iyong mga players not just from UAAP and NCAA but also players who came from provinces and also from different countries.”
Alas Pilipinas pool member and Fil-Am setter Tia Andaya shone in the first day of the Draft Combine as she led all comers in both the countermovement jump (294 cm) and the approach jump (307 cm).
Also making some impact were playmaker Von Dimaculangan of San Sebastian College who posted the fastest 10-meter acceleration time at 1.55 seconds and Alisha Marce from Adamson University whoo clocked the best result in the modified T-test at 5.22 seconds.
Lea Rizel Tapang of Letranand Lyann De Guzman of Ateneo topped the push-up test with 47 repetitions each.
