Petro Gazz soar past Creamline to claim All-Filipino crown

The Petro Gazz Angels soared to new heights as they captured their first-ever All-Filipino Conference championship, stunning the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers in four thrilling sets, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, in front of 10,226 fans, on Saturday, April 12, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Creamline came out blazing in the opening set, showing the poise of a champion with clean execution and relentless energy. 

The two teams battled early, with a 15-10 scoreline marking their first long rally. MJ Phillips sparked a 3-0 Petro Gazz run, trimming the gap to 13-15 before a costly error by Mafe Galanza tied the match at 15-all. 

However, it was Brooke Van Sickle who turned the tide, scoring three consecutive kills to put Petro Gazz ahead 19-16. 

Alyssa Valdez provided a spark off the bench, but the Angels countered with composure and power to take Set 1.

Petro Gazz's dominance continued in the second frame. They opened with an 8-4 lead by shutting down Creamline’s offense and capitalized on unforced errors. Phillips remained unstoppable, while Jonah Sabete and Djanel Cheng delivered the blows—Sabete with smart attacks, and Cheng with three consecutive service aces. 

Creamline struggled to recover as the Angels cruised to a 25-16 win behind their heavy service pressure.

In the third set, Creamline fought back. Despite early miscues—including a wrong set from Kyle Negrito and a service error from Sabete—Creamline managed to tie the game at 17 with a 4-0 run. 

Lorie Bernardo and Bernadeth Pons powered Creamline to a 19-17 lead, but Petro Gazz stayed close. At 22-23, an outside attack gave Petro Gazz a brief lead, but Creamline held their nerve to take the set, 25-23.

The fourth set saw another battle of grit. Phillips made her presence felt early with a kill and a block, helping Petro Gazz to a 6-3 lead. 

Creamline answered, but service errors and key points from Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Van Sickle gave the Angels momentum. A ball-in challenge confirmed a point for Maizo-Pontillas, and Van Sickle’s well-placed shots pushed the lead to 22-18. 

In the final stretch, an unexpected set from Chie Saet to Joy Dacoron, followed by back-to-back aces from Van Sickle, sealed the deal—and the championship.

Van Sickle’s consistent brilliance throughout the tournament earned her the Most Valuable Player of the Conference, while Phillips rose to the occasion in the finals, powering Petro Gazz to its first All-Filipino crown and claiming the Finals MVP honors.

The Washington-native couldn’t hide her pride and gratitude after Petro Gazz’s All-Filipino title win. 

"I’m just really proud of this team," she said. "We’ve gone through so much, but everyone has that fighting spirit, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this group."

The Filipino-American outside hitter also reflected on the support she’s received, sharing, "Being able to call my friends and family and share this journey has been amazing. I thank God for everything, for the chance to play the sport I love, and for staying injury-free."

From kills and blocks in the first set to lethal serving in the second, Petro Gazz displayed versatility, composure, and hunger all match long. The Angels flew higher than ever—and this time, they landed with gold.