MANILA, Philippines – Following a period spent abroad, MJ Phillips is back with Petro Gazz, where her true heart lies.

After competing in the Korean V-League with the Gwangju AI Peppers, where the challenges were as intense as the matches, Phillips didn’t waste any time in reestablishing her relationship with the Philippine volleyball community.

Her comeback was celebrated with a visit to Petro Gazz, the dominant team in the Premier Volleyball League, the court to which she has always belonged.

Wearing the infamous Petro Gazz polo shirt, Phillips kept a close eye on the Angels as they dominated Cignal. The results, which read 25-13, 25-18, and 25-17, demonstrated Petro Gazz’s unwavering quest for victory in the current All-Filipino Conference.

In the middle of the ovation and clapping, two-time PVL Best Middle Blocker Phillips said how excited she was to be part of the team’s pursuit of victory.

With resolve in her eyes, she said, “We have to talk with management and see where we’re at, whether I can play the next game or probably in the semis – if we can make it to the semis, hopefully.”

Her presence in the 20-man roster that the squad presented before the games began cemented her ability to participate in the ongoing conference.

Petro Gazz is now tied for second place with Creamline, both of whom have outstanding 7-2 records. With six teams battling it out for the four semifinal spots, the road to the top is not without its difficulties.

But Phillips seems to have faith in her team’s talents, recognizing its strength even without her. Thinking back on Petro Gazz’s incredible run so far, which included a huge win against Creamline, she said she was confident in her colleagues’ skills.

Phillips is unwavering in her devotion to the team’s mission even as talks about her participation in the forthcoming games loom.

“If they need me, I mean, as long as this team wins, and I trust that they can do it with or without me, it doesn’t matter. They’re a strong enough team, so I have faith in them,” she reiterated.

With her sights set on success on the home and international stages, Phillips is committed to perfecting her skill. She’ll be back in the KVL from April 29 to May 1 for another trial, but for now, she’s concentrating on Petro Gazz’s quest for PVL glory.

Last weekend, Cignal ‘dashes’ PLDT in an incredible turnaround

In a dramatic encounter in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Sta. Ana, Cignal delivered a surprising 24-26, 26-24, 25-17, 28-26 win, all but ending PLDT’s hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals. On Saturday night, Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

The HD Spikers performed a performance worthy of a postseason spot even though they were eliminated from the running for the semifinals. They demonstrated strong blocking and took advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses in serve receiving during the swing set to grab the lead 2-1.

With strong kills from the wings and backrow line in the fourth set, Vanie Gandler’s outstanding performance helped the HD Spikers outmaneuver their sister team in another exciting, long match.

The two hours and twelve minutes of play were made more intense by Ces Molinas’s vital contributions off the bench after cramping out, including important hits that forced a tie at 23 and finally won the victory.

With 8-2 records, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, and Creamline will now move on to the semifinals of the Sports Vision-organized league’s first conference.

PLDT suffered a heartbreaking 7-3 loss that stopped its progress in fifth position with 20 points. The eager HD Spikers were ultimately victorious due to Gonzaga’s decisive play and Molina’s clutch heroics.

Molina scored 15 points in total, Gandler was outstanding with 12 points, Troncoso contributed 8 points, while Jackie Acuña and Gel Cayuna both contributed 6 points, including 3 blocks. Midway through the game, Acuña also shone, imposing her will on the center.

Additionally, Savi Davison’s 29 points and Dell Palomata’s 15 points were ineffective for the HD Spikers. For the High Speed Hitters, Majoy Baron added 11 points as well, while Santos concluded with seven markers.