From a backdoor entry into the semifinals to securing the first ticket to the Finals.
Given the opportunity to shine, Petro Gazz seized the moment in dominant fashion, overpowering Akari, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18, to complete a sweep of the single round-robin semi of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.
The Angels' relentless pursuit of glory was on full display, as they carried the momentum from their stunning victories over the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans into their clash with the Chargers.
Akari fought valiantly early on, but the Chargers couldn’t keep up with the two-time Reinforced Conference champions, who turned up the heat in the last two sets to seal the win in one hour and 27 minutes.
With an immaculate 3-0 record, Petro Gazz clinched the first spot in the best-of-three championship series – an incredible turnaround for a team that had to claw its way into the Final Four. After falling in their quarterfinal opener, the Angels rallied to eliminate the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in back-to-back matches, proving their resilience and championship mettle.
This marks Petro Gazz’s second trip to the All-Filipino Finals, the first being in 2023, when it fell short against Creamline. But this time, the Angels appear more determined than ever to claim the crown.
"I'm really happy. We kind of fell short in the last two conferences,” said Myla Pablo in Filipino, who delivered a stellar 16-point performance, highlighted by four kill blocks. Her efforts earned her a second consecutive Best Player of the Game honor, following her gutsy showing in the Angels’ hard-fought four-set victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans last Tuesday.
“But the job’s not done yet. We’ll get some rest and then shift our focus to the Finals,” she added.
For Pablo, their victory was even more special because it showcased the team’s depth, with almost everyone who saw action contributing in their own clutch ways. This collective effort eased the scoring load on Brooke Van Sickle, Jonah Sabete, MJ Phillips and herself.
“Everyone stepped up, the whole team was locked in. Our defense and blocking worked well. We’re just really happy we pulled off this win,” Pablo said.
After taking the first two sets in contrasting styles, the Angels entered the third frame virtually pressure-free. Their confidence soared when Phillips halted another Akari rally with her signature quick attack, giving Petro Gazz a slim 15-13 lead in a sequence that saw Akari libero Justine Jazareno accidentally bump her head into an ad board while attempting to keep the ball in play.
The Angels then sealed the set with a decisive 10-5 run.
Veteran Aiza Pontillas was pivotal in that surge, contributing three points, including consecutive textbook hit outs, while Van Sickle added back-to-back hits – one a drop ball and the other a power tip.
Faith Nisperos tried to spark a rally for the Chargers with two crosscourt kills, but the Angels were just too focused on their Finals destination. Joy Dacoron finished off a slide attack, and Nicole Tiamzon sealed the deal with an off-the-block hit, sending Petro Gazz to the best-of-three title series.
Van Sickle finished with 15 points and nine excellent digs, while Phillips and Sabete contributed nine and six points, respectively. Dacoron ended with four points, Pontillas added three, and Ranya Musa and Tiamzon chipped in two and one point, respectively.
Akari posted a 1-2 record and will now await the outcome of the other Final Four matchup between sister teams Creamline and Choco Mucho to determine their fate.
The Cool Smashers, who bounced back from their loss to the Angels with a dominant win over the Chargers last Tuesday, will need another victory to set up a Finals showdown with Petro Gazz.
However, a Choco Mucho win would create a three-way tie at 1-2, forcing a playoff on Saturday to determine Petro Gazz’s Finals opponent.
As the Finals looms, the Angels stand tall – battle-tested, fearless, and hungry for redemption.
Gretchel Soltones led Akari with 14 points, but struggled to get consistent support from her teammates. Ivy Lacsina contributed eight points in just two sets, while Eli Soyud was limited to seven points. Ced Domingo and Nisperos finished with six and three points, respectively, as Akari’s offense fell short.
Meanwhile, Pablo continued her stellar performance after leading Petro Gazz to a four-set victory over Choco Mucho. This time, instead of delivering the decisive hits as she did in the extended fourth set against the Flying Titans, she showcased her defensive prowess, denying Soyud’s back-to-back kill attempts with emphatic blocks.
The Angels appeared poised for a dominant win in the opening frame, capitalizing on the Chargers’ sluggish start to build a 9-4 lead. However, Soyud, alongside Lacsina and Soltones, found her rhythm, igniting an Akari comeback. Their offensive surge turned the match into a tightly contested battle.
The Chargers forced five deadlocks, with Soltones knotting the count at 15 after an off-the-block hit. Soyud then put Akari ahead with a block on Van Sickle. But the Angels, maintaining their composure, took advantage of a Soyud net-touch violation in the ensuing play and seized momentum, winning four of the next five points, with Pablo sealing the set with consecutive rejections of Soyud’s attacks.
The 28-minute opening set featured nine deadlocks, with Petro Gazz edging Akari in attacks, 13-12. Both teams matched each other in blocks (four) and aces (one), but the Angels capitalized on their opponents’ errors, earning seven free points while conceding five.
In the second set, the Angels remained poised and composed, unfazed by the relentless pressure from the gritty Chargers. Despite being dragged into a series of grueling exchanges, Petro Gazz consistently emerged unscathed.
A big 4-0 run, punctuated by a Sabete kill, shattered the deadlock at 12. Though the Chargers fought back with consecutive points, the Angels responded with their own two-point bursts. The last of these came from a thunderous Van Sickle attack, capping off a thrilling rally that saw Dacoron’s two quick attempts and a slide attack skillfully fended off by the Chargers’ resilient defense – only for a Soltones attack error to swing momentum back to Petro Gazz.
Sitting on a 23-19 cushion, the Angels held firm. Soltones kept Akari’s hopes alive with a hard-earned point following another intense rally filled with spectacular digs on both sides. But when it mattered most, Pablo rose to the occasion, delivering a blistering crosscourt kill.
Moments later, Camille Victoria sealed the Chargers’ fate, mistiming a quick set from Michelle Cobb. With that, the Angels moved one step closer to the Finals.
