With their patience and poise tested to the limit, the Petro Gazz Angels proved they had the resilience, composure and sheer will to withstand the storm.
In what was expected to be a fierce battle at Philsports Arena on Tuesday night, the Angels stamped their authority for the second straight game. They withstood the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles’ early resistance in each set before leveraging their experience, firepower and late-game composure to secure a commanding 25-21, 25-19, 25-23 victory and clinch the fourth and final semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Petro Gazz entered the match prepared for a tough battle but instead faced a hesitant ZUS Coffee squad, allowing the Angels to dominate the first two sets. After a commanding Game 2 performance, many expected the Angels to encounter a more aggressive and determined opponent. However, when the pressure intensified, ZUS Coffee faltered, paving the way for another straight-set victory for Petro Gazz.
While Petro Gazz advanced and stayed on track for a breakthrough AFC championship, ZUS Coffee bowed out with heads held high, proving their worth despite a roster brimming with youthful talent but lacking the poise and endgame savvy that only experience can develop over time.
The Angels, however, will face their arch-rivals, the Creamline Cool Smashers, as their first opponents in the Final Four – a single round-robin phase where every game matters and there is no room for error.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho and Akari, the first two semifinalists, will clash in the opening match at 4 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Saturday (March 29), followed by the highly anticipated Creamline-Petro Gazz showdown at 6:30 p.m.
After two set losses, however, the Thunderbelles showed they still had plenty of fight left. Trailing, 7-12, in the third frame, they launched a blistering rally, turning the endgame into a battle of nerves.
However, just like in Game Two, experience ultimately triumphed over youthful exuberance. When it mattered most, veteran Brooke Van Sickle spearheaded the Angels’ offense, while MJ Phillips anchored the middle with a commanding presence reminiscent of her performance that forced this do-or-die showdown.
Myla Pablo made her mark – not through her usual offensive firepower, but with a clutch defensive play at the net. She perfectly timed her block on Thea Gagate’s set-tying attempt, sealing the set, the match, and a semis berth for the two-time Reinforced Conference champions.
Yet, it was the seasoned Chie Saet who truly shined in the high-stakes clash. Delivering 20 excellent sets and adding five points of her own, she played a pivotal role in Petro Gazz’s stunning comeback from a one-game deficit in the best-of-three series.
“We stayed composed and relaxed in the latter part of the third set. Nagmamadali kasi, so I reminded them to stay calm and focus on our first ball,” said Saet.
Down 21-22, the Angels capitalized on a Chinnie Arroyo attack error to pull even. A well-timed defensive effort then denied another Arroyo hit, leading to a free ball that Saet expertly set up for Phillips’ quick attack. But the Thunderbelles refused to crack, with Joan Narit blocking Phillips to force yet another deadlock.
In the nerve-wracking finish, the Angels once again held their ground while the Thunderbelles wavered. Arroyo misfired on an attack, prompting a ball-in/ball-out challenge, which ZUS Coffee lost – placing Petro Gazz at match point.
With one last chance, ZUS Coffee turned to its towering middle blocker, Gagate, for a potential quick hit. However, Pablo rushed from the left wing to join Phillips at the net, perfectly reading the play. Her kill block sent the ball dropping into an unguarded ZUS Coffee zone, sealing the win and officially eliminating the young squad from the semis race.
Van Sickle delivered another stellar performance, leading all scorers with 24 points, including a variety of attacks in the first two sets. Phillips contributed 10 points, while Jonah Sabete added nine, and Pablo chipped in with seven, highlighted by three crucial kill blocks.
On the other side, Arroyo spearheaded ZUS Coffee’s offense with 13 points, nearly carrying the team single-handedly in the latter part of the third set. Gagate and Chai Troncoso each tallied 10 points for the Thunderbelles, who, despite the loss, demonstrated their potential to compete with the league’s powerhouse teams.
The two teams split the first four points, with the Thunderbelles winning two intense rallies. However, once Saet activated Phillips in the middle, giving Petro Gazz its first lead at 5-4, the Angels never looked back.
Petro Gazz went on a three-point run, heading into the first technical timeout with a four-point advantage. Though the Thunderbelles responded with back-to-back points, the Angels quickly reasserted control, extending their lead to six at 20-14, fueled by Van Sickle’s four consecutive hits.
ZUS Coffee fought back with three straight points – two from Gagate’s kill blocks and one from a Cloanne Mondonedo ace. And Arroyo’s powerful kill, following a strong defensive stand by ZUS Coffee, tightened the gap to 18-20.
But Petro Gazz showed composure under pressure, navigating their opponent’s late surge. Coach Koji Tsuzurabara outmaneuvered his counterpart, Jerry Yee, in a tactical battle of double substitutions in the stretch with Aiza Pontillas sealing the set with a decisive crosscourt hit.
Despite the Thunderbelles dominating the net with a 6-2 blocking advantage, thanks to Gagate’s towering presence, the Angels capitalized on their offensive firepower, delivering 17 attack points, five more than their rivals. Petro Gazz also made the most of ZUS Coffee’s errors, earning five free points while conceding just two due to their own miscues.
The Thunderbelles rebounded from their first-set setback with renewed intensity, matching the Angels shot-for-shot and dig-for-dig in a tightly contested second frame. At one point, they seized control, but the score remained deadlocked at 14.
Then, Saet sparked another Petro Gazz surge, setting up Phillips for a quick hit. Van Sickle followed with a couple of attacks before Saet herself caught the defense off guard with another 1-2 play, giving the Angels an 18-14 advantage.
ZUS Coffee, which had stunned Petro Gazz with a 3-0 sweep in Game One of their best-of-three series, struggled to respond. The Angels maintained relentless pressure, unleashing a variety of attacks led by Van Sickle.
Nicole Tiamzon, fresh off the bench, delivered a service ace that extended their lead to an insurmountable 23-15.
Gagate and Gonzaga momentarily halted ZUS Coffee’s slump with two quick points, but Van Sickle remained unstoppable. Even in out-of-system plays, she found ways to score, landing a well-placed drop ball and a deceptive off-speed shot. Those points, despite back-to-back Petro Gazz errors, secured the set for the Angels and pushed them to a commanding 2-0 lead – just one set away from replicating their Game Two victory and clinching the decisive match.
