Playing with a Bang

Just when the floor of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) seemed to demand a steadier hand and a sharper eye, Petro Gazz found both in a veteran who has lived every corner of the court.

From the first time she chased a ball across an elementary-school playground in San Juan to the nights she steadied an entire Angels roster battling for a championship, Bang Pineda has become the quiet certainty in a sport that rarely gives room for comfort.

Her journey, carved through years of shifting roles, moving leagues, and carrying the weight of younger teammates depending on her voice, tells a story of a player who never stopped adjusting — not because she wanted to survive — but because she always believed she had more to give.

It is a transformation that mirrors the evolution of her career and the demands of a team that kept growing younger around her. Pineda, who once lived above the net as a spiker, now thrives several feet below it, gathering balls, reading attacks, and directing traffic like a conductor navigating pressure-packed rallies.

The veteran in her embraces the responsibility not as a burden but as a job she has long mastered.

“As a veteran, this is a job, so wherever I can help, wherever I can distribute what the coaches see as my capability, I think I’ll just follow it,” Pineda said in episode of Off the Court, the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE, last Thursday.

Pineda said her willingness to shift from the explosive rhythm of attacking to the unforgiving grind of floor defense was never born out of desperation. It came from an understanding that teams evolve, and players must evolve with them.

The 34-year-old Pineda’s experience came in handy for the Angels in 2025 as they not only won the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, but also the Reinforced Conference.

Versatile player

Pineda’s volleyball journey started back when she was playing in Kabayanan Elementary School in San Juan.

“When I was in elementary, Grade 4, there was a volleyball team. I was just playing with my classmates and I just saw a ball pass by,” the 34-year-old Pineda said.

From that moment she picked up volleyball, Pineda life took a turn for the better as she found herself playing for Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

She would team up with the likes of Matet Piza, Pau Soriano, Mylene Paat and Jellie Tempiatura as they made it to the Final Four twice in 2013 and 2014.

Pineda even recalled how former Lady Falcons head coach Sherwin Meneses convinced mentor Dulce Pante to let her play as a spiker instead as a libero after seeing her insane vertical jump and spiking brilliance.

“Mommy Dulce wanted me to be a libero since I was small but Coach Sherwin fought for me to be a spiker because I jumped high,” Pineda said.

“Coach Sherwin and Mommy Dulce trusted me a lot. I couldn’t play in Shakey’s V-League because I was in residency so they made me play as a guest player.”

When Pineda started her career as an outside hitter, she would switch positions depending on what the team needs. Her versatility became her biggest asset as she continues to evolve.

Asserting leadership

Pineda’s quick reflexes and experience proved to be an asset as she collected trophies and medals.

While Pineda didn’t win a single UAAP title in indoor volleyball, she was able to snag the beach volleyball championship in 2013 before winning three Philippine Superliga titles with Petron in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Even with her recent PVL titles, Petro Gazz showcased her veteran presence as hitters like Myla Pablo and Lindsey Vander Weide would consult her for the plays after assistant coach Billie Anima gave her permission to call the shots on the taraflex.

“When Coach Billie (Anima), our assistant coach, gave me the license to command, that’s when I realized that I need to be a leader. I don’t think my floor defense will be good if I don’t tell my spikers what they need to do,” Pineda said.

“It’s up to them. When they do something, the ball passes. That’s my job.”

Her transition from attacker to defensive anchor provided her a unique perspective — not only can she read the opponents’ tendencies, but she also knows exactly what spikers need to hear in the middle of a rally.

“Because sometimes, like Linz (Vander Weide) and Brooke (Van Sickle), sometimes they ask if the line is open so it helps that we tell them where to strike,” Pineda said.

“I think the communication and leadership inside is what helped us win.”

With Pineda providing the veteran stability and leadership on the floor, the Angels soared high, beating ZUS Coffee, 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-20 in the sudden-death finale to formally clinch the Reinforced Conference title on 30 November.

With the season done, Pineda looks forward to celebrating the holidays with her family.

“For now, rest since I’m feeling sick and bonding with my family. I want to make up for them because I’m always in training,” Pineda said.

“When the holidays are done, it’s back to training for us.”

As Petro Gazz prepares for another run, her presence becomes even more essential.

Veterans like Pineda are rare — not because of age or experience, but because they commit fully to whatever role the team demands, embracing responsibility without theatrics.

In a league constantly searching for its next big star, Pineda remains the kind of player championships are built on — steady, seasoned, and always ready the moment the ball crosses her side of the court.