MJ Phillips ready to boost Petro Gazz in PVL semis | ABS-CBN
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MJ Phillips ready to boost Petro Gazz in PVL semis
MJ Phillips ready to boost Petro Gazz in PVL semis
Kennedy Caacbay,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 28, 2024 06:23 PM PHT
Petro Gazz middle blocker MJ Phillips. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
Petro Gazz middle blocker MJ Phillips. Photo from PVL Media BureauMANILA – Star middle blocker MJ Phillips is finally back for Petro Gazz — and she's prepared to put up a fight in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) semifinal round.
MANILA – Star middle blocker MJ Phillips is finally back for Petro Gazz — and she's prepared to put up a fight in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) semifinal round.
Phillips made an emphatic return in the local scene, helping the Gazz Angels clinch top spot after the preliminaries of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference with a 9-2 win-loss card (28 points), edging Choco Mucho (26 points) and Chery Tiggo (25 points) despite having identical records.
Phillips made an emphatic return in the local scene, helping the Gazz Angels clinch top spot after the preliminaries of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference with a 9-2 win-loss card (28 points), edging Choco Mucho (26 points) and Chery Tiggo (25 points) despite having identical records.
"It feels good to be back, honestly. Seeing familiar faces but also seeing new faces as well. It's been an adjustment, [given] like the new system and some new players like how to figure out how to work with them on the court," Phillips said after a 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 triumph over Nxled on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
"It feels good to be back, honestly. Seeing familiar faces but also seeing new faces as well. It's been an adjustment, [given] like the new system and some new players like how to figure out how to work with them on the court," Phillips said after a 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 triumph over Nxled on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Gazz Angels fell to the gritty Chameleons in the first set but got their groove back to take the match.
The Gazz Angels fell to the gritty Chameleons in the first set but got their groove back to take the match.
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"Our focus wasn't there I would say today but we're gonna come back stronger in the semis and give a good fight," she said further.
"Our focus wasn't there I would say today but we're gonna come back stronger in the semis and give a good fight," she said further.
When the dust settled, she logged 11 points on nine attacks, a block, and an ace.
When the dust settled, she logged 11 points on nine attacks, a block, and an ace.
Phillips also bared that her entrance to the PVL taraflex again on Saturday was a trial run — to see how she fits into the system of Koji Tsuzurabara.
Phillips also bared that her entrance to the PVL taraflex again on Saturday was a trial run — to see how she fits into the system of Koji Tsuzurabara.
"This game was very important to me 'cause I just needed a trial run to see how I work with the team and the system and everything. I was a little shaky, but we’re gonna get there with more practice,"
"This game was very important to me 'cause I just needed a trial run to see how I work with the team and the system and everything. I was a little shaky, but we’re gonna get there with more practice,"
Phillips also addressed her availability amid the Korean Volleyball League (KOVO) draft.
Phillips also addressed her availability amid the Korean Volleyball League (KOVO) draft.
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As Phillips already played with the Gwangju AI Peppers, she didn't need to try out again, she said.
As Phillips already played with the Gwangju AI Peppers, she didn't need to try out again, she said.
"For the players that already played in the KOVO, we don't need to go attend to the tryouts, only the players that are newcomers. So I'll still be here."
"For the players that already played in the KOVO, we don't need to go attend to the tryouts, only the players that are newcomers. So I'll still be here."
That means former PVL MVPs Mylene Paat and Tots Carlos might be out for their respective teams, Chery Tiggo and Creamline, in their first game in the semis.
That means former PVL MVPs Mylene Paat and Tots Carlos might be out for their respective teams, Chery Tiggo and Creamline, in their first game in the semis.
Phillips also said she has been bonding well with another Petro Gazz ace, Brooke Van Sickle, and acknowledged that it will help them in further matches.
Phillips also said she has been bonding well with another Petro Gazz ace, Brooke Van Sickle, and acknowledged that it will help them in further matches.
"It's great. It's another person I could talk to [who] understands everything that's going on. We just have a good time. We live in the same building so we get to hang out and do a bunch of stuff and form that bond and I think that will help us in the games as well."
"It's great. It's another person I could talk to [who] understands everything that's going on. We just have a good time. We live in the same building so we get to hang out and do a bunch of stuff and form that bond and I think that will help us in the games as well."
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Asked about her mindset going into the postseason, Phillips said she wants Petro Gazz to be in attack mode.
Asked about her mindset going into the postseason, Phillips said she wants Petro Gazz to be in attack mode.
"I say just go all out, put pressure on them from the beginning, and let's not wait for them to make errors and stuff. We really have to attack them."
"I say just go all out, put pressure on them from the beginning, and let's not wait for them to make errors and stuff. We really have to attack them."
Petro Gazz will face the Crossovers in the semis on Tuesday, April 30, at the PhilSports Arena.
Petro Gazz will face the Crossovers in the semis on Tuesday, April 30, at the PhilSports Arena.
First serve is at 6 p.m.
First serve is at 6 p.m.
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