PVL All-Filipino off the wraps

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo launch their ambitious title campaigns as they tackle newbies Strong Group Athletics and Capital1 Solar Energy, respectively, today at the start of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The Angels have added potential key pieces to the championship puzzle by tapping Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara and Fil-Am Brooke Van Sickle and reacquiring Myla Pablo while naming middle blocker Remy Palma as its team captain.

They joined a team already loaded with talent including Jonah Sabete, Aiza Maizo Pontillas and Djanel Cheng.

“Just call me Koji,” said Tsuzurabara after acknowledging the difficulty of pronouncing his name.

“We’ll try to compete hard every game,” he added.

Petro Gazz will come into its 4 p.m. duel as the heavy favorite to beat SGA, a sister team of Farm Fresh, as the latter will come in with a youth-laden team mentored by Rogelio Getigan.

The Crossovers have also beefed up with the addition of Aby Maraño and Ara Galang from the defunct F2 Logistics.

Already, Chery Tiggo has a team of superstars in Mylene Paat, Laure sisters Eya and EJ, Jasmine Nabor, Shaya Adorador, Cza Carandang and Ponggay Gaston that is ready to contend.

“Laban lang kami,” said Chery Tiggo bench tactician Kungfu Reyes.

For Capital1 Solar, multi-titled coach Roger Gorayeb brought in a mixture of veterans and young guns ready to wade into battle into the deep, treacherous PVL trenches.