Petro Gazz Angels’ coach Koji Tsuzurabara (right) and captain Remy Palma. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz captain Remy Palma shared an emotional moment with Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara after the Angels captured their first-ever PVL All-Filipino Conference championship on Saturday in front of an ecstatic 10,000 Final Game 3 crowd at Philsports Arena.
After Petro Gazz ended Creamline’s four-conference reign, Palma and Tsuzurabara hugged each other, with the latter pointing at his player and proudly saying, “Our captain!”
READ: Petro Gazz Angels topple an empire and change PVL landscape
“You did good!” Tsuzurabara told Palma as they shed tears.
Winning the Angels’ maiden All-Filipino crown after four tries was a culmination of the leadership provided by Palma, whom the Petro Gazz considers its unsung hero.
The captain and the coach!
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara and Rem Palma celebrate their title. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/LTuNSpqQux
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 12, 2025
“Coach Koji and I have this love-hate relationship—kind of like a father and daughter. Sometimes we don’t agree with each other but at the end of the day, what matters more is our shared goal and the drive to reach it,” Palma told the reporters in Filipino.
“I guess I just had a moment where everything we went through as a team over the past six months flashed back. All the love and trust they’ve given me—it’s really the result of all the hard work we’ve put in together to chase our dream of winning the AFC Championship.”
Palma may be coming off the bench or having limited action as a starter. But Tsuzurabara and the Angels credit their success to her leadership.
READ: PVL Finals: Remy Palma plays unsung hero in Petro Gazz Game 1 win
During their semifinal win over Creamline, Tsuzurabara attributed their big win to Palma’s leadership even though she played sparingly. In Finals Game 1, the Angels lauded their captain for keeping them afloat after blowing a two-set lead.
“Being the team captain, I saw it as both being a leader and a follower. I’m really grateful because I was given a role that taught me also hard lessons in life, not just in volleyball. I’m always trying to look at every situation in a bigger setting and always trusting the coach’s decisions,” Palma said.
“Like they say, sometimes God lets you fall because He knows He already taught you how to get back up and keep fighting. It’s a tough role, but I never lose heart because I have my teammates and coaches with me every step of the way. If there’s a real hero in all of this, it’s God—because He made everything possible for us,” she added.
Leading a veteran team composed of Myla Pablo, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, and Chie Saet as well as Filipino-American MVPs Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips wasn’t easy for the longtime Petro Gazz middle blocker.
But their give-and-take relationship made it possible for Palma to keep this team together until they finally reached the Promised Land.
READ: PVL: Remy Palma’s ‘good leadership’ proves crucial in Petro Gazz victory
“Leading a team full of veterans, strong personalities, and high-level athletes was definitely a challenge—but also super fulfilling. It took a lot of courage, dedication, patience, and love to make things work. There were many moments when I had to let my guard down just to really understand and connect with everyone,” she said. “I think one of the biggest keys to our strong team foundation was healthy communication. The challenges will always be there, but what I’m really grateful for is that everyone stayed committed to our goal throughout the conference.”
The former Far Eastern University star was fulfilled to finally finish their story after a heartbreaking 2023 All-Filipino, where they won the series opener but couldn’t clinch the elusive title.
“Back in 2023, we almost took the crown. It was always “almost.” We [always] fell short in the end, but we trusted God’s plan. It just wasn’t our time yet. But now, we’re finally living the dream—champions of the 2025 All-Filipino Conference. We proved to everyone that we’re not just a team for the Reinforced Conference. This whole experience is one for the books. It’s forever etched in my core memories,” Palma said.
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Petro Gazz, though, has to cut short its celebration as Palma and the Angels shift their focus to the AVC Champions League starting Sunday.
“Heading into the AVC, we’re bringing with us the championship mentality we learned from this All-Filipino Conference. The team’s resilience and grit will be our fuel as we represent both the country and Petro Gazz,” said Palma. “With all the pride and grace from the Lord, we’re hoping this journey turns out to be just as meaningful. It’s always a joy and an honor to carry the flag. For the country, we’ll fight!”
