Oliver Almadro still confident Petro Gazz can conquer All-Filipino ‘soon’

Petro Gazz Angels settle for another runner up finish in the All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Although the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference title remained elusive for Petro Gazz, coach Oliver Almadro believes the Angels can win it soon.

Despite failing to close out the series after their Game 1 victory, Almadro remained optimistic of the Angels’ future after they emerged as title contenders in the All-Filipino amid the departure of several key figures including Myla Pablo and coach Rald Ricafort who transferred to PLDT.

“God works in mysterious ways and [although] I will not be champion today, I will not be champion tomorrow or next month, but I’m really sure that we will be champions soon,” said Almadro after their 25-20, 20-25, 18-25, 15-25 loss to Creamline in Game 3 on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Almadro still lauded the Angels bannered by Grethcel Soltones, Best Middle Blockers Remy Palma and MJ Phillips, Jonah Sabete, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, and setter Remy Palma for pushing the defending champions to their limits. 

“I’m still happy. I’m happy we had this run. I told the team we are one set away from the championship. The second game went to five sets. We are one set away, 15 points away from the championship and that’s how Creamline outworked us, 15 points,” the new Petro Gazz coach said.

“The last set is the hardest to get. So we will work hard soon after we were outworked but we were not outclassed, we were not outsmarted. My players, my team did very well, they showed their character up to the last point they will fight no matter what. So I’m proud of my team,” he added.

‘WORK HARDER’

Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro. –PVL PHOTO

Almadro, who resigned as Choco Mucho coach in the middle of the Reinforced Conference to focus on Ateneo women’s volleyball program, was glad to find his new home at Petro Gazz, which brought him to his first PVL Finals appearance as a pro.

“A few months ago people doubted me, they didn’t trust me, I also lost my credibility and self-trust in coaching again in pro but the Petro Gazz family, the Villavicencios gave me their trust and indeed when I hear them now they’re saying that they’re happy and proud that they still made it here despite those players that are missing,” he said. “We’re here and we’re shy of one set away from the championship and we will not stop here, we will work harder to reach that destination.”

Despite losing the championship, Petro Gazz beat every PVL club in this tournament. But Almadro said they have to work harder and start early for their Invitational Conference build-up before it opens in June.

“In this conference, we beat all the teams. We beat them but we did not get the championship so I guess we have to outwork those teams who were hard to beat,” Almadro said. “ We have to start early, we have to work harder, especially in physicality because the level of Philippine volleyball is different. It’s really physical.”

“The skills are already there but we have to strengthen their bodies and need to improve their character. We will try harder to find a solution to our lapses,” he added.

WATCH: Coach Oliver Almadro after settling for silver in his first tournament with Petro Gazz. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/sGmcdLyrx8

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 30, 2023

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