Taipower stops Petro Gazz in four sets to stay unbeaten in Pool B

Fresh off their historic Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Championship win, the Petro Gazz Angels were brought back down to earth in their first match on the continental stage, falling in four sets to Chinese Taipei’s Kaohsiung Taipower, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25, at the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Monday afternoon, April 21, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Despite the momentum of a landmark local title just over a week ago, the Angels couldn’t find their rhythm against the well-drilled and youthful Taipower squad. 

The nine-time Top Volleyball League champions leaned on the consistency of 21-year-old outside hitter Hsu Wan-Yun and 23-year-old wing spiker Tsai Yu-Chun to maintain their unbeaten record (2-0) and clinch the top spot in Pool B.

The loss also marked a first for a Philippine team in the tournament, as Petro Gazz became the country’s initial casualty in this year’s edition of the AVC Women’s Champions League.

The Koji Tsuzurabara-mentored squad found themselves outpaced early on, dropping the first two sets decisively. However, they showed signs of life in the third, staging a late 4-1 surge punctuated by a set-sealing service ace from Brooke Van Sickle to extend the match.

In the fourth, the Angels trailed narrowly at 11-13 before Taipower launched a critical 6-0 run to break away and seal the victory.

Now facing elimination, Petro Gazz enters must-win territory. They will take on Hong Kong’s Hip Hing on Tuesday, April 22, with both squads holding identical 0-1 records. A win would send the Angels through to the quarterfinals as Pool B’s second seed.