Petro Gazz now inches closer to a finals berth after overcoming a familiar foe in the Creamline Cool Smashers.
The Petro Gazz Angels were on the losing end against the Creamline Cool Smashers when they last played during the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminaries.
Before a jam-packed crowd at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, the Angels fell in a 19-25, 25-22, 25-16 sweep to Creamline in November last year, which served as a reality check early into the new PVL season.
Five months later, the refueled Petro Gazz finally had their chance at payback in the conference semifinals, controlling the tempo to stun Creamline in a dominant 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16 victory over the weekend.
Fittingly enough, the Angels found redemption in the same Antipolo-based venue, while also wearing the same black uniforms against the Cool Smashers. Only this time, the stakes are much higher, with Petro Gazz inching much, much closer to earning a slot into the best-of-three finals.
“Before, in the first round, we also lost to Creamline in this same situation, with the same uniform so I wanted to win today’s game. Creamline was still too strong, but again, we won,” Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara said.
Save for a third-set stumble, it was the Angles flaunting their depth to overwhelm the Cool Smashers’ defense, with Brooke Van Sickle leading the way after firing for a game-high 26 points built on 22 kills, three service aces, and one block.
Fit-again Jonah Sabete also played her best game of the conference, finishing with 19 points and six excellent receptions. Sabete also accounted for five of Petro Gazz’s 13 blocks in the two-hour and 10-minute affair.
“Actually…mindset ko kanina is bahala na talaga eh, because we know Creamline na like lalaban at lalaban talaga, so ‘yun. Sabi ko bahala na lang, basta ako gagawin ko nang maayos ‘yung trabaho ko, susunod at susunod na ‘yung lahat, so kahit papaano, naging okay naman ‘yung kinalabasan namin,” Sabete said.
Myla Pablo came alive late to finish with 11 points, including three rejections, while MJ Phillips (9 points) and Ranya Musa (7 points) took turns holding down the net for the Angels. Chie Saet also remained impactful as a lead playmaker after finishing with 23 excellent sets.
“In today’s game, everyone had a good performance, including Jonah, Ranya and Brooke. From the starters to the bench, everybody performed according to the analysts as well,” a proud Tsuzurabara said.
Beyond the numbers, the Japanese mentor also hailed team captain Remy Palma’s impact, as she continued to provide leadership despite spending much of the game on the Petro Gazz bench.
Tsuzuabara shared, “Today, our hero was Captain Rem. She didn’t play during the second set and third set, but she always gave advice to her teammates, telling them, ‘Let’s go, let’s go!’ and she makes sure to provide a good atmosphere. She controlled the team, so she deserves to be recognized in our win.”
Survival mode
This is only Creamline’s second overall loss for the conference, but it’s a much bigger one as compared to their thrilling five-setter against the PLDT High Speed Hitters. It was a bad time for the Cool Smashers’ out-of-town curse to strike anew, which makes their April 1 matchup against the Akari Chargers a must-win if they want to keep their title defense bid alive.
“It’s not the ideal way to start the semifinals series, but I think the coaches reminded us na it happened already and we have to let it go. Kasi importante rin ‘yung mga next games namin, so as much as we want to dwell on it, we have to move forward and focus on the next game,” a graceful, but understandably down team captain Alyssa Valdez said.
Saturday’s playdate also saw Creamline’s sister team, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, fall in five sets to the Chargers, making it quite a forgettable weekend for the Rebisco-owned franchises.
While their backs are now against the wall, Valdez is nonetheless accepting the challenge to keep their championship aspirations alive.
“It’s not the start that we wanted and the challenge is very big, but it’s accepted for all of us. We put ourselves in this situation, so kami ‘yung kailangan na gumawa ng paraan kung gusto namin kahit papaano ma-save ‘yung season na ito.”
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.