Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Petro Gazz has further solidified its status as one of the hottest Premier Volleyball League (PVL) teams right now.
The Angels overcame a gutsy Zus Coffee squad en route to a 25-20, 24-26, 28-26, 25-22 triumph in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena.
They extended their winning streak to six, garnering the top spot with 20 points at a 7-1 win-loss slate while edging the idle Creamline (7-0) which currently sits at second with 19 points.
The duo of star spikers Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo showed up, leading the way in the offense with 27 and 22 points.
Pablo acknowledged the need for them to step up—or else Zus Coffee would have completed its upset bid.
"Siyempre, kung ano ‘yung sinasabi sa 'min ng mga coaches namin—kumbaga work. Kailangan gumawa ka sa loob ng court, especially Brooke and me," said Pablo, who also listed 19 attacks. The 22-point output was her conference-best, by far.
"Kailangan talaga is maging consistent kami na mga open [hitter] na binibigay talaga namin best namin na maipanalo itong game na ito," she added.
For her part, the reigning All-Filipino MVP Van Sickle tallied 25 attacks while putting the work in defense with 15 excellent digs and five excellent receptions.
Meanwhile, the Thunderbelles still showed promise, snatching one set and even pushing Set 3 to the limit, but eventually fell to the surging Angels.
Kate Santiago delivered 21 points, while Chai Troncoso was at close 19 points to pace the Thunderbelles.
Tied at one set apiece, Zus Coffee was actually on pace to steal the third frame, 24-23, but Van Sickle unleashed a sharp attack to save them set point and extend the period.
After exchanging points over long rallies, the Angels finally put a period on the said chapter after Pablo notched back-to-back kills, 28-26, for a 2-1 Petro Gazz lead.
The Thunderbelles, after falling down to a 13-16 hole in Set 4, eventually made their way back and tied at 16-all off two attacks and a block from Santiago and Troncoso.
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Things went Petro Gazz's way after the Thunderbelles gave up three points off mistakes — Sharya Ancheta's service error, Thea Gagate and Troncoso's attack errors — to go with MJ Phillips' kill for a four-point, 20-16 cushion. It was a separation that Zus Coffee struggled to trim down.
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Troncoso still kept the Thunderbelles alive, saving a match point at 24-21 after an attack which luckily dropped, but Van Sickle put away the gritty blue-and-white jerseys, dealing the finishing blow for her 27th point.
Petro Gazz takes on Capital1 next on Tuesday, February 11, at the same Pasig venue while Zus Coffee aims to bounce back against Cignal on Thursday, February 13, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.