Almadro gets last laugh
Head coach Oliver Almadro got a sense of vindication after Petro Gazz reached the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Finals in his first year with the club.
Troubled by harsh criticisms of late, especially on social media, Almadro found solace in his Angels after they brought him to his first club league championship appearance in half a decade.
The embattled mentor could not contain his emotions as he talked about Petro Gazz’s crack at dragging defending champion Creamline down the throne.
He showered praises on the Angels for welcoming him with open arms, readily adapting to his system and rising to the occasion despite several pre-season changes.
“We know they lost a lot of players in their team before the season, their scorer, main libero, coach. What’s important is that the Villavicencio family trusted us,” a very grateful Almadro said.
“Like me, when everybody doubted me, the Villavicencios, and the Petro Gazz accepted me and trusted me. Again, for filling this job and I just told them that I’ll do my job and they trusted me,” Almadro added as he tries to steer the reigning Reinforced Conference champion to a second straight title.
Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals in a rematch of last year’s Open Conference title showdown begins today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Angels defeated the PLDT High Speed Hitters in a sudden-death, 25-17, 25-23, 25-15, for the last championship berth last Thursday for their third All-Filipino Finals showdown against the Cool Smashers.
The sweet victory sent Petro Gazz to its fifth overall championship stint.
Almadro lef t Choco Mucho in the middle of the 2022 import-laden tournament citing his intention to concentrate on Ateneo de Manila University’s women’s volleyball program but came back to the PVL as Petro Gazz’s tactician.
“These girls, when I came in this time, I’m really laid-back because I really want to feel them, but they accepted me, fully. They trusted me. I told them that we will grow together and indeed, these girls really are amazing,” he said.
He, however, has been drawing flak following Ateneo’s fall from grace in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 first round.
Entering the Finals in the club league for the first time since taking Ateneo-Motolite in the 2018 Open Conference where his team finished runner-up, in a way eased the pressure and burden on Almadro.
“I didn’t know, I’m not expecting to be in the finals right away, I didn’t really... I really didn’t expect this. No, I really thank these girls, I really thank these girls because they trusted me right away, they trusted me right away. And you know, Finals right away, it’s a big blessing,” an emotional Almadro claimed.
But the work is not yet done for Almadro and Petro Gazz.
The Angels still have to beat a team that has dominated them in an all-local contest.
‘What’s important is that the Villavicencio family trusted us.’