MANILA, Philippines – The Petro Gazz Angels completed the 2024-2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinal cast after thumping the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in a do-or-die Game 3, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, on Tuesday, March 25, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Petro Gazz will join defending champion Creamline, Choco Mucho, and Akari in a round-robin semifinals, where the two teams with the best records will advance to the best-of-three championship series.
Brooke Van Sickle led the way for the Angels with a 24-point effort, built on 22 attacks.
“It was heartbreaking [after losing Game 1], but things happen… [we just] come back absolutely fighting or just be done,” Van Sickle said after the game.
“We just challenged ourselves and we were able to come together as a team.”
The Thunderbelles were on the verge of forcing a fourth set as they led 22-21, but the veteran Angels team outscored their opponents 4-1, to pull the rug under ZUS Coffee.
Chinnie Arroyo’s attack error gave the Angels a 24-23 lead, before Myla Pablo turned rookie Thea Gagate back at the net to give Petro Gazz the series.
After losing Game 1 in a straight-set upset, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, Petro Gazz won the last two games, both in sweeping fashion.
Veteran playmaker Chie Saet provided steady leadership, putting up 20 excellent sets, along with 5 points, to help the Angels claim the win.
Arroyo led the Thunderbelles’ offense with 13 markers, while Gagate added 10 as the overachieving team bowed out.
“ZUS is a fantastic team, every conference that goes by, they’re just getting better and better to see, I think they’re one of the better teams on defense,” said Van Sickle, the former All-Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player.
The semifinals kick off on Saturday, March 29, with Choco Mucho facing Akari at 4 pm, and Petro Gazz going up against Creamline at 6:30 pm at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. – Rappler.com