Despite falling short on day 2 of the 2025 AVC Champions League, it’s not over yet for Petro Gazz and Creamline.
From scoring back-to-back victories on opening weekend, the Philippine contingent in the 2025 AVC Champions League suffered twin losses on day 2 of the regional meet at the Philsports Arena on Monday.
Over a week removed from their historic PVL All-Filipino Conference title run, the Petro Gazz Angels suffered a 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25 loss against the Kaohsiung Taipower to open their campaign in Pool B.
While they showed signs of life in Sets 3 and 4, the Angels were neutralized by Taipower’s heavy serving and pinpoint floor defense, which prevented their vaunted offense from fully taking off in the one-hour contest.
As a silver lining, Petro Gazz saw a glimpse of Brooke Van Sickle and Gia Day’s partnership on the offensive end. Day finished with a game-high 18 points against Taipower, while Van Sickle added 13 as the Angels tried to overcome their lethargic start.
“I would say that today wasn’t our best performance, we definitely came out a little flat, but again, I’ve always preached about this: losses result in lessons learned,” Van Sickle reflected moments after Petro Gazz’s loss.
“So I feel like, in a way, this is an opportunity for us to learn, so we can definitely do a better job of staying together. Just better vibes, and you know? Talk, and everything.”
Hours after the Angels, it was the Creamline Cool Smashers who suffered a 16-25, 17-25, 17-25 to Kazakhstan-based powerhouse VC Zhetysu to finish pool play with a 1-1 record.
After a statement win over Al Naser on Easter Sunday, Creamline was unable to weather the Kazakhstan League champions, who took full advantage of their taller frames to shut down the 10-time PVL champs.
Erica Staunton finished with a team-high nine points, while imports Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Anastasiya Kudryashova added six and five markers, respectively, as no Creamline player finished in double digits against the Kazakhstan-based crew.
“I guess, again, we have to stick to our system pa rin and listen to our coaches. These teams are very exposed and well-experienced, so kami din, we should bring our own system and chemistry for this league, na kahit papaano ‘yun ‘yung pwede naming advantage in this tournament,” team captain Alyssa Valdez said post-game after Creamline’s straight-set loss to Zhetysu.
Still on the hunt
Despite these losses, however, not all hope is lost for the two local squads, who hope to join the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the knockout quarterfinal rounds.
Petro Gazz will have one golden shot to bounce back as they lock horns with Hong Kong’s Hip Hing, who holds a similar 0-1 record after falling to Taipower last Sunday.
Should they defeat Hip Hing, then Petro Gazz will enter the knockout quarterfinals as Pool B’s second seed. It’s a pressure-packed bout, yes, but Van Sickle knows that it will be on her Angels to move forward and re-focus on overcoming another serial winner for their quarterfinal aspirations.
“We expected to get pushed [by Taipower] and again, these are all championship teams for a reason, so we gotta switch our mentality and get after our next game, just try to bounce back and stick together as a team as much as possible,” Van Sickle said.
“Again, just reflect. No one wants to lose, but you learn your biggest lessons when you’re pushed more to the limits, cause now it’s like a fight or flight circumstance. So that’s all we can do and just hope for the best.”
Creamline, meanwhile, now finds themselves in a tight spot after getting swept by Zhetysu, as they no longer have control over their quarterfinal ticket. Unlike the Angels with Hip Hing, the Cool Smashers would have to wait for the result of Zhetysu and Al Naser’s Pool A finale.
The best case scenario for Creamline? A Zhetysu win over Al Naser, which allows them to enter the quarterfinals as the second seed for Pool A.
While a cloud of uncertainty hovers over Creamline’s heads, they know that Tuesday’s loss against Zhetysu was a reality check that will help them big time should they enter the quarterfinals.
“I think ‘yung game ngayon, napaka-ibang–iba sa [last] game namin…kasi ‘yung Kazakhs talaga sobrang tangkad nila, and ‘yung game ngayon, lesson sa amin na kung anong team ‘yung makakalaban namin. Kung matangkad ba sila, mabilis, or what,” head coach Sherwin Meneses reflected post-game.
“So, dapat ‘yung adjustment medyo mabilis. So, mag-focus lang kami kung makuha namin ‘yung slot sa quarterfinals.”
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.