MANILA — From an unlikely semifinal entry to the first team through to the championship round, Petro Gazz continues its Cinderella run in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
The Angels put on a dominant display, sweeping Akari, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18, in the semifinal round-robin stage at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday to secure the first ticket to the best-of-three Finals series.
Riding high on momentum from stunning victories over powerhouses Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans, Petro Gazz showed no signs of slowing down, overwhelming the Chargers in just one hour and 27 minutes.
Despite a spirited start from Akari, the Chargers struggled to sustain their intensity against the two-time Reinforced Conference champions, who turned up the heat in the latter sets to seal the win.
A Stunning Turnaround
With a pristine 3-0 record, Petro Gazz officially clinched a Finals berth—a remarkable feat for a squad that had to fight its way into the semifinals. The Angels bounced back from an early quarterfinal loss, eliminating the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles with back-to-back wins to earn a spot in the Final Four.
This marks Petro Gazz’s second PVL All-Filipino Finals appearance, following their 2023 runner-up finish to Creamline. This time, the Angels are determined to claim the championship.
“I’m really happy. We fell short in the last two conferences, but we’re not done yet,” said Myla Pablo, who led Petro Gazz with 16 points and four kill blocks, earning her second consecutive Best Player of the Game award.
“We’ll take some time to rest, then shift our focus to the Finals,” she added.
Pablo credited the team’s depth for their success, highlighting contributions from multiple players that lightened the offensive load on herself, Brooke Van Sickle, Jonah Sabete, and MJ Phillips.
“Everyone stepped up, our defense and blocking worked well, and the whole team was locked in,” Pablo noted.
Decisive Finish
After winning the first two sets in contrasting fashion, Petro Gazz played the third set with renewed confidence. The pivotal moment came when Phillips halted an Akari rally with a quick attack, giving the Angels a slim 15-13 lead.
The Chargers suffered a scare when libero Justine Jazareno collided with an advertising board while chasing a loose ball. Petro Gazz then closed out the set with a 10-5 run, led by veteran Aiza Pontillas, who contributed three points in the final stretch.
Van Sickle added 15 points and nine excellent digs, while Phillips and Sabete chipped in nine and six points, respectively.
Akari’s Faith Nisperos tried to rally her team late in the match, but the Angels remained laser-focused on their Finals goal. Joy Dacoron nailed a quick hit, and Nicole Tiamzon sealed the victory with an off-the-block attack, sending Petro Gazz to the championship round.
Waiting for a Finals Opponent
Akari, now with a 1-2 record, must await the outcome of the other semifinal matchup between Creamline and Choco Mucho.
A Creamline victory would set up a rematch of last year’s Finals between the Cool Smashers and Petro Gazz. However, if Choco Mucho wins, it would create a three-way tie at 1-2, forcing a playoff on Saturday to determine the Angels’ championship opponent.
Meanwhile, Gretchel Soltones led Akari with 14 points, but the Chargers lacked consistent offensive support. Ivy Lacsina and Eli Soyud contributed eight and seven points, respectively, while the team struggled to break Petro Gazz’s defensive wall.
With the PVL Finals looming, the battle-tested and determined Angels are now just one step away from their championship dream.
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