Who will step up when MJ goes to Korea?
MJ Phillips' eventual departure for South Korea's V-League will leave a big hole to fill. Quite literally. She's a six-foot tall middle blocker after all.
New recruit Julia Ipac knows the rest of the middle blockers of Petro Gazz Angels will have to step up eventually, when Phillips heads to the Gwangju AI Peppers as the first-ever Filipina import in Korea.
"Nakaka-pressure din kasi malaking tao si MJ. Magaling talaga siya," Ipac told One Sports' The Game on Thursday night. "Yung position na maiiwan, kami either first stringer or second stringer malaking pressure."
It is yet to be clear whether Phillips will play the entire PVL Invitational Conference with the Angels, but Petro Gazz did sign up two middle blockers in Ipac and KC Galdones.
Ipac previously competed with the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders in the 2022 PVL Open Conference, while KC Galdones last played with the UST Golden Tigresses.
It's been a while since Ipac played competitive volleyball, but she did work out in Cebu and trained with her high school coach to get herself going and keep up with the runners-up of the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Setter Chie Saet even shared scenes from their training with Heather Guino-o and Des Clemente.
"Literal na sipag. Kailangan mag-double time kahit sobrang fit ka na," Ipac observed of veterans such as Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Grethcel Soltones.