MANILA, Philippines – The Petro Gazz Angels stamped their class anew as a top contender in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, dumping the reeling Akari Chargers in a tight sweep, 28-26, 29-27, 25-18, at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, December 5.
Reigning conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle led the short, yet nail-biting victory with 19 points, followed by 15 from fellow MVP Myla Pablo as the the Angels rose to a 3-1 record.
Van Sickle credited captain Remy Palma for the win, saying her leadership pulled the rest of Petro Gazz through the nip-and-tuck opening frames to eventually pull off the straight-setter.
“Coming off our rest, we haven’t played in a while, so to be able to come out and stay focused in those tight matches was awesome,” she said.
“I’m super proud of everyone, I feel like Rem did a very good job collecting all the girls while we’re on the court and just to slow us down, because I feel like at times we we’re like [panicking] and she’s like, ‘Calm down, it’s okay, take a breath, and just play our volleyball.'”
Palma added 7 points in the win, same as fellow veteran leader Aiza Maizo-Pontillas.
“I thought she did a fantastic job keeping the team together. I thought everyone came out with really good energy. Everyone’s smiling, it was good vibes. Akari came out with fire and grit as always and they did a great job. It was a fantastic battle, it was good volleyball,” Van Sickle continued.
Ivy Lacsina paced the loss — the Chargers’ third-straight sweep setback after a 2-0 start — with 21 points, while Grethcel Soltones and Eli Soyud scored 11 and 10, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Farm Fresh Foxies showed no sister team love to ZUS Coffee in the first match of the double-header, as they ended the Thunderbelles’ historic two-game winning streak off a four-set decision, 26-24, 13-25, 25-21, 25-19, to forge identical 2-2 records.
Rising star Trisha Tubu, fresh off a 21-point eruption in just three sets against Akari, followed up with 28 more against ZUS Coffee off 27 attacks, while fellow rising spiker Alyssa Bertolano scattered a triple 12 on the stat sheet (points, excellent digs, excellent receptions) in an all-around showing.
No. 1 overall pick Thea Gagate led the losing cause with 16 points off 12 attacks, 3 blocks, and 1 ace, as fellow top options Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo scored 10 apiece. – Rappler.com