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The Petro Gazz Angels during their AVC Champions League game against Chinese Taipei's Taipower on April 21, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – Petro Gazz became the first Philippine squad to absorb a defeat in the AVC Women's Champions League.
This, as the Angels suffered a four-set heartbreak at the hands of Chinese Taipei's Taipower, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25, on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
READ: AVC: Nakhon Ratchasima takes out Queensland Pirates, sends PLDT to quarters
The newly crowned PVL All-Filipino champions are now on a do-or-die mode, as another loss in Pool B would mean elimination.
READ: Alyssa Valdez on representing PH: 'Extra motivation talaga having the flag on our chest'
The Koji Tsuzurabara-mentored team will take on Hong Kong's Hip Hing next, set for Tuesday, April 22. They have identical records at 0-1.
In a game where it looked like it'll be a straight-set loss, the Angels still showed their will during Set 3, snatching the period through a 4-1 finishing blitz capped by a set-clinching Brooke Van Sickle ace.
Only a two-point 11-13 deficit for the Angels in Set 4, the Taipower side pulled away with six unanswered points en route to the four-set win.
For its part, Taipower has secured a spot to the quarterfinals after going 2-0 in group phase.
It's not all bad news for Pinoy teams as PLDT (1-0) has already clinched a spot to the quarterfinals after Thai club Nakhon Ratchasima (1-0) took out Australia's Queensland Pirates (0-2) from contention in Pool D, 25-10, 25-16, 25-12.