The Petro Gazz Angels are back in heaven after three years, clinching their first-ever Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference championship.
And for the first time in five conferences, the Creamline Cool Smashers had to settle for silver.
Petro Gazz overcame a shaky third set and held their composure to finish off Creamline in four sets, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, in the winner-take-all Game 3 on Saturday evening before 10,226 roaring fans at the Philsports Arena.
“If I say a thing, I will cry,” said Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara. “Every day, I scold my players but they did their best performance today. I appreciate them, my coaching staff and the management.”
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The Angels struck first in the finals with a gritty five-set win in Game 1, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10. The Cool Smashers responded with a strong Game 2 performance, 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9, forcing a rubber match.
But throughout the conference, Petro Gazz had only one response to adversity: bounce back stronger.
After dropping their second game of the tournament, the Angels went on a stunning 10-game winning streak. Later, they stumbled again — this time against lower-seeded ZUS Coffee in the quarterfinals opener.
What followed was another fierce surge, with six straight wins halted only by Creamline’s Game 2 victory in the finals.
Then came the defining win; the one that gave Petro Gazz its third overall PVL championship, adding to their 2019 and 2022 Reinforced Conference crowns — and ending Creamline’s dream of a historic five-peat.
“I’m just really proud of the team. We persevered through a lot. We had a lot of ups and downs. I’m just so proud. You know, everyone just has that fighting spirit and everyone’s just great people, on and off the court, just selfless people,” said Brooke Van Sickle.
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The Angels nearly swept the Cool Smashers after gaining a 17-13 lead in the third set. But Bernadeth Pons, Lorie Bernardo, and Jema Galanza sparked Creamline’s 10-5 run to steal the set, 25-23.
Jonah Sabete tried to reenergize Petro Gazz, but Pons delivered a powerful hit through the block off a combination play to extend the match.
Despite the slip, the Angels regrouped and stood tall in the fourth.
Tied at 18-all, Van Sickle and veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas joined forces for four unanswered points to give Petro Gazz the cushion they needed, 22-18.
A service error by Chie Saet briefly halted the Angels’ momentum, but Joy Dacoron, Van Sickle, and Sabete scored in succession to seal the win after two hours and one minute of intense volleyball action.
Middle blocker MJ Phillips was named Finals MVP, delivering 15 points in the clincher, including four blocks. She also scored 16 points in Game 1 — six of which came in the fifth set — and added another 15 in Game 2.
Van Sickle was rock-solid throughout the series, finishing Game 3 with 21 points, 18 excellent receptions, and nine digs. Sabete, who battled cramps from the second set onwards, still mustered 16 points in a gutsy performance.
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For Creamline, Pons led the fight with 17 points and 10 digs, while Galanza turned in an all-around effort of 15 points, 15 receptions, and 14 digs.
Pangs Panaga added 11 points, but the Cool Smashers’ 26 errors — seven more than Petro Gazz — proved costly in the end.
