Petro Gazz signs Japanese tactician Koji Tsuzurabara as new head coach

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Petro Gazz Angels will be unfolding a new chapter in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024 season after tapping the services of Japanese mentor Koji Tsuzurabara confirmed last January 21, 2024.

It was the Petro Gazz management that formally welcomed Tsuzurabara as their newest chief tactician after a graphic social media post was uploaded to their various online handles.

A widely-renowned coach who already traveled the world through coaching the sport, Tsuzurabara will look to restore Petro Gazz’s lost glory after missing a playoff spot last All-Filipino Conference.

Before accepting the head coaching job in the Philippines, Tsuzurabara took his expertise to Vietnam and handled the Under-19 women’s team of the Kinh Bac Bac Ninh franchise.

After his contract expired with the Vietnamese club, the Angels then pulled the trigger in acquiring him before their formal training camp in the first conference of the 2024 season kicks off.

Aside from his experience in Vietnam, the Japanese coach also handled some clubs in Myanmar, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.

Tsuzurabara will be working with a load of talented players in the current roster of Petro Gazz led by the returning Myla Pablo following the disbandment of her former team F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.

Boosting Petro Gazz’s offensive firepower is Filipino-American spiker Brooke Van Sickle, one of the most highly-touted rookies in the PVL.

Completing Petro Gazz’s star lineup in the upcoming conference are Aizo Maizo-Pontillas, Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, and steady setter Djanel Cheng.