MANILA, Philippines — Two-time Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio was among the 9,551 fans in attendance at the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

While on a break after a bronze medal finish at the Paris Olympics four months ago, Petecio finally got her wish to watch a PVL game with her fiancee Riza Geneblaza and saw Chery Tiggo stun erstwhile unbeaten PLDT in four sets in the curtain raiser.

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But the 2020 Tokyo silver medalist said she wasn’t not cheering for a specific team but rather rooting for her friends.

READ: PVL: Chery Tiggo topples PLDT behind Jen Nierva, Cess Robles

Two-time Olympian Nesthy Petecio on her PVL experience. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/F556LW1hIR

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) December 3, 2024

“Sobrang nakakatuwa na sinusuportahan ko yung mga kaibigan ko sa volleyball. Si Aby Maraño isa din na kaclose ko din siya. Si ma’am Bethel Solano, PT (physical therapist) ng Choco Mucho, siya yung PT ng SEA Games, Asian Games, and Paris Olympics,” Petecio told reporters.

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“Both teams sa Creamline si Alyssa Valdez close ko din po yun. Sa Choco Mucho siyempre si ma’am Bethel. Sobrang idol ng partner ko si Sisi Rondina. Gustong gusto ko manood last conference pa nung finals nila pero wala po akong time,” she added. 

Petecio also made time to pose for selfies with volleyball fans. She hopes someday Philippine boxing will also get the same kind of overwhelming support.

READ: With millions of incentives, Nesthy Petecio secures family’s future

“Nakakatuwa na makita na ganoon kadami yung suporta sa volleyball. I wish na ganun din po sa boxing diba?” she said.  “Nanonood ako dati ng ibang volleyball na laro pero di siya ganun na pag naglalakad ako ay ‘Nesthy pa-picture.’ Sabi ko nga sa partner ko hala kilala na pala nila ako ang sarap sa pakiramdam na nakikilala.”

With PVL’s continuous rise contributing to women empowerment in sports, Petecio is thrilled to see female Filipino athletes thrive in different fields.

“Nakakatuwa na hindi na lang puro lalaki yung nakikita ng mga tao ngayon [sa sports]. Nag-e-excel na rin yung mga kababaihan. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam, ang sarap masaksihan na ganun yung nangyayari ngayon. Sana magtuloy tuloy. More support pa sana. No discrimination sa kung ano man yung gender or something. Sana equal lang lahat and sobrang nakakatuwa na ganun yung binibigay na suporta ng mga tao,” Petecio said.