Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro couldn’t be happier calling the shots for a team with “mature, down to earth and hardworking players.”
Almadro expressed gratitude to the club that took him in after resigning from Choco Mucho last year.
“The good thing about this team is that they have players who are mature girls, mature person,” Almadro said following the Angels’ 18-25, 20-25, 22-25, loss to Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference opening day Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“They work hard a lot and it surprises me. I can’t ask for people that are down to earth and willing to work hard and willing to play and sacrifice,” he added.
“The Petro Gazz Angels are like that so I’m happy that they accepted me well and I’m happy that I’m here. They’re helping me grow and we will help each other grow.”
Almadro stepped down from his post with the Flying Titans in the middle of the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference and was replaced by interim coach Edjet Mabbayad.
He cited as reason for his resignation his intention to focus on the women’s volleyball program of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Some criticized Almadro on accepting another club coaching assignment despite already handling the Blue Eagles, who are set to begin their campaign in the University Athletic Association Season 85 later this month.
The mentor cleared that he got the full support of Ateneo in his coaching gig in the PVL.
“Again, I’m not the only coach to coach in the UAAP and PVL or Spikers Turf. I’ve been asked about this many time. I don’t have anything wrong with Ateneo. Ateneo is very happy that I got another job and for the record, I have no problem with Ateneo,” Almadro said, clearing the air.
This is not the only time that Almadro had multiple coaching stints.
“Ateneo has supported me ever since I was with the men’s team. Back then I was also coaching Cignal (in the Spikers’ Turf),” he added.
“It’s because of course we have to secure our family, our finances. That’s one point. Second, we need to share our talent and wisdom with others.”
Almadro said both Petro Gazz and Ateneo are cool with him coaching for the two teams.
“What can you ask more from those two organizations, those two institutions that really want to help me grow as a mentor and as a teacher. It’s just so sad that people are always asking how about the time? How about the time? How about the time? Well, I’m not the only person that has two jobs,” he said.
PVL coaches like Dante Alinsunurin, who took over Choco Mucho, is also calling the shots for National University both in the UAAP and Spikers’ Turf, Cignal’s Shaq delos Santos is also the mentor of University of the Philippines women’s team, Akari’s Jorge de Brito handles the national women’s team, Rald Ricafort of PLDT is also coach of UP men’s while Creamline’s Sherwin Meneses is concurrently the bench tactician of Arellano University men’s team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“I’m happy with Ateneo and they’re happy for me. I’m happy with Petro Gazz and they’re supporting me,” Almadro said.
