Petro Gazz remains the standard in import-laced play after ruling the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Petro Gazz continues to assert their mastery in import-laden play.
The Angels are now three-time champions in the PVL Reinforced Conference after outlasting the up-and-coming ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles 21-25, 28-26, 25-22, 25-20 on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Petro Gazz’s veteran composure ultimately prevailed in the end, as they pulled away from the gritty Thunderbelles after the young squad stole the opener and nearly took a 2-0 set lead early on.
In flexing their championship form, the Angels officially became the most successful team in the PVL Reinforced Conference, along with copping their fourth title in franchise history.
“We started off a little slow, but we battled in the second. A couple of times, we had our doubts, but the girls kept their focus, stayed together and we just chipped away at it. Once we kind of got the lead, [ZUS Coffee] started feeling the pressure and it made it easier for us,” head coach Gary Van Sickle said post-game.
Petro Gazz relied on a four-headed attack to bury the Thunderbelles, led by import Lindsey Vander Weide with a game-high 23 points and nine excellent receptions, followed by now-three time PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle punching in 20 points and seven excellent digs.
Finals Most Valuable Player MJ Phillips added 17, while Myla Pablo completed the offensive onslaught with 14 points, including the game-winning spike, for the Angels.
However, Petro Gazz’s path to the championship was far from ideal as they had to deal with a slow start to the import-laden tourney. The Angels started things off with a 3-2 record in Pool B, including a four-set loss to ZUS Coffee, which initially placed doubts on their status as contenders.
Come Round 2 of the eliminations, though, the Angels began to pick up their stride, highlighted by an upset over the PLDT High Speed Hitters to secure the fifth seed entering the conference quarterfinals.
“We had a very rocky start and we had to come collectively together, and definitely it was a do-or-die situation for us. So I am just proud of our team for just having that grit and staying locked in and focused when it really matters,” Brooke said.
Come the conference quarterfinals the Angels began to look like championship contenders, taking down the Creamline Cool Smashers in four sets to end their historic podium streak, before surviving the Akari Chargers in five to clinch a ticket back to the championship round.
“It just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how you start the season. It just matters how you finish, so I’m just really proud of everyone since they came through in clutch moments throughout the season. We had some rough patches, like Lindsey sprained her ankle, she’s sick, and we were still trying to figure out what was cohesive,” continued Brooke.
The rest, as they say, is history, with Petro Gazz ending the year just like how they started it: as champions of the PVL.
“It was a lot of ups and downs and there were a lot of things we had to figure out, so I’m just really proud and I’m really happy with management for taking the risk of having my parents coming here to coach the team. It all worked out, and I’m just really grateful,” Brooke concluded about Petro Gazz’s title romp.
On the other hand, ZUS Coffee was paced by Best Import Anna DeBeer with 18 points, followed by Rookie of the Conference AC Miner with 16 markers built on six blocks. And while they will take home the silver medal, it goes without saying that the future is just as bright for the Thunderbelles, who have taken another huge step in their journey to PVL contention.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.