Photo: PVL
By Rachel Gonzales
Petro Gazz secured the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference title Sunday, rallying past first-time finalist ZUS Coffee 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-20 in a winner-take-all showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Angels, leaning on their veteran core, completed a comeback season after last year’s failed three-peat bid ended in a quarterfinal exit.
Lindsey Vander Weide — the 2022 champion, Best Import and Finals Most Valuable Player — delivered on her promise to return and lead Petro Gazz again. Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo also came through in crucial stretches, adding another title to the team’s resume following its first All-Filipino Conference crown in May.
The championship is Petro Gazz’s fourth overall, keeping the club behind Creamline’s league-best 10 titles. The Angels, however, are now the winningest team in the Reinforced Conference with three championships, surpassing the Cool Smashers’ two.
Petro Gazz closed the tournament on a five-match winning streak, including a quarterfinal victory over defending champion Creamline and a hard-fought semifinal win against last year’s runner-up Akari.
The Angels controlled the fourth set, building a 20-14 lead after an ace from Chie Saet. Phillips fired timely quick attacks, and Vander Weide and Pablo sealed the match with back-to-back points.
Vander Weide finished with a game-high 23 points. Van Sickle added 20 points, winning a championship with her parents, Gary and Lisa, both serving on the Petro Gazz coaching staff.
Phillips earned Finals MVP honors after delivering 17 points, while Pablo chipped in 14. Rookie setter Jules Tolentino tallied 20 excellent sets.
Anna DeBeer led ZUS Coffee with 18 points. AC Miner added 16, and Thea Gagate contributed 11.
Despite the loss, ZUS Coffee capped a breakthrough campaign by reaching its first finals appearance after a 7-1 elimination-round performance. The squad swept Capital1 in the knockout quarterfinals and stunned two-time champion PLDT on Thursday in the semifinals.