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MJ Phillips, who missed the first few games of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference due to a shoulder injury, proved that she is back and better than ever, as she led the Petro Gazz Angels to a three-set victory over the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Thursday night at the Philsports Arena.
The Angels sealed their third win in five games with a score of 25-23, 25-13, 25-13, much to the delight of their fans and head coach, Oliver Almadro. Almadro was all praises for his team's performance, but he couldn't help but commend Phillips for her impressive comeback and her outstanding performance in the last two games.
Before Phillips' injury, she was one of the key players for the Angels, and her absence was a big blow to the team's campaign. However, her patience and perseverance paid off as she slowly but surely made her way back into the game. Her return was a breath of fresh air for the Angels, who needed her skills and experience to bolster their roster.
In her second consecutive start for the team, Phillips scored 13 points on nine attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Her presence on the court was felt not just by her teammates but also by their opponents, who struggled to contain her attacks.
Phillips' leadership and mentality were also crucial to the team's victory. She liked what she saw from Petro Gazz, especially in the third set, where they fought tooth and nail to close out F2 Logistics. She was impressed by the team's fighting spirit, which was evident in their determination to keep pushing forward, even if they were up by two points.
"I’m just happy that we kept pushing," Phillips said. "We just really wanted to win it. We’re like nothing [will] drop, we’ll just keep pushing forward and yeah, contain the energy and also put it away."
With Phillips back in the game and the team's confidence soaring high, the Angels are definitely a team to watch out for in the All-Filipino Conference.
