Petro Gazz coach Kaji Tsuzurabara during the AVC Champions League against Taipower.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara was thrilled to see his former player Chang Li Yun thrive as Taipower coach after the latter got the better of the Angels in their Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League duel.
Petro Gazz started its Pool B campaign with a tough 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25 loss to Taipower, which is composed of Tsuzurabara’s former players during his stint with the Chinese Taipei women’s national team from 2019 to 2022, on Monday at Philsports Arena.
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“[Some of] Taipower were my players. When I was coaching the national team, some players were high school players. So, at that time, every day, eight or nine hours, they had practice. So, I was looking forward to today’s game. Because I could check the improvement of the Taipower players,” said Tsuzurabara.
After losing to the gritty Taiwanese, who swept two games in Pool B, Tsuzurabara took the blame, vowing to bounce back against Hip Hing of Hong Kong when they fight for the last quarterfinal berth on Tuesday.
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara, Gia Day, and Brooke Van Sickle after falling to Taipower. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/32yBbSKH0s
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
“Everyone in Taipower had defensive, positive, and aggressive fighting spirit. But my team, so disappointed. My responsibility,” he said.
Chang was nervous facing her former mentor, but she remained focused on leading her team to a two-game Pool B sweep.
“I was a little nervous because before, I was just a player, but I am a coach now. I trust my players to deliver in this game,” said the Taipower coach.
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“I was in a team with coach [Koji] before. I was his player. I think I don’t want to focus on those things so I can have other ways to talk to the players.”
Chang seeks to work on their defense and service ahead of the quarterfinals ahead of their quarterfinal game against the second seed of Pool C
“My players need more communication and teamwork heading into the quarterfinals, so we will work on that,” she said.
Sportsmanship still prevailed in the end as Tsuzurabara and Chang took photos together with their teams.
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