Petro Gazz secured the final slot in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference semifinals after decisively sweeping feisty ZUS Coffee in a must-win Game 3 on Tuesday, March 25, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Angels cruised to victory with a straight-sets victory, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23.
With this triumph, Petro Gazz joins defending champions Creamline, along with Choco Mucho and Akari, in the round-robin semifinals. The two teams with the best records will then advance to the best-of-three finals to determine the league champion.
Despite cruising through the first two sets, Petro Gazz faced strong resistance in the third, as the young and determined Thunderbelles fought to extend the match. However, the Angels maintained their composure when it mattered most.
A costly attack error from ZUS Coffee’s Chinnie Arroyo handed Petro Gazz match point at 24-23. Moments later, Myla Pablo came up with a crucial block against Thea Gagate, sealing the win and the Angels’ spot in the next round.
Brooke Van Sickle was instrumental in Petro Gazz’s victory, delivering a stellar 24-point performance built on 22 successful attacks.
Reflecting on the team’s journey after their early setback, Van Sickle shared that losing Game 1 was tough, but they chose to fight and came together as a team.
MJ Philips also made her presence felt, contributing 10 markers, while veteran setter Chie Saet played a key role in orchestrating the Angels’ offense, dishing out 20 excellent sets and five points to earn Player of the Game honors.
"I’m grateful to be back on the court and to have the trust of Coach Koji [Tsuzurabara]. I take the responsibility given to me seriously, both in contributing and leading my teammates," Saet said in Filipino.
Jonah Sabete, playing just her second game back, delivered nine markers and 11 excellent digs, while Pablo rounded out the Angels’ performance with seven points and 11 excellent receptions.
On the other side, Arroyo led the scoring for ZUS Coffee with 13 markers, while Chai Troncoso and Gagate contributed 10 points each. Despite their exit, the Thunderbelles earned respect for their strong showing throughout the tournament.
“ZUS is a fantastic team, every conference that goes by, they’re just getting better and better to see, I think they’re one of the better teams on defense,” the reigning All-Filipino Conference MVP Van Sickle remarked, praising the Thunderbelles’ progress.
The semifinal round kicks off on Saturday, March 29, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Petro Gazz will face a tough challenge right away as they take on powerhouse Creamline.
With the stakes higher than ever, the battle for the championship is only heating up.
