Petro Gazz gets a timely boost as MJ Phillips returns in time for PVL conference

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Petro Gazz Angels welcomed its former superstar middle blocker MJ Phillips back into the lineup for the upcoming 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference set to kick off this February.

After her Korean Volleyball League stint, Phillips is ready to lead Petro Gazz once again to PVL glory as she missed the past conferences due to her overseas contract.

Last April 21, 2023, Phillips was drafted by the Gwangju AI Peppers during the Korean Volleyball League selection ceremony.

The towering Phillips got selected fifth overall and immediately suited up for Gwangju when she received her clearance from Petro Gazz to play overseas.

It was last March 26, 2023 when Phillips confirmed that she already passed her tryout requirements to the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) including the necessary documents asked by the Korean V. League.

Phillips was the only Filipina pro player who got selected in the recently concluded draft with the likes of Jia Morado-De Guzman and Majoy Baron all failing to make the cut.

Aside from De Guzman and Baron, Mylene Paat, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Iris Tolenada also declared for the draft but also didn’t get their names called during the ceremony.

Now that Phillips’ campaign in Korea is already done, she is ready to reinforce the Angels again and halt their post-season bleeding.

Without her, Petro Gazz missed the playoffs two straight times and failed to crack into the top five placings in both the Open and All-Filipino Conferences.

Phillips and her squad will be playing under a new system designed by Japanese tactician Koji Tsuzurabara.