Fresh off a historic PVL All-Filipino championship, Petro Gazz entered the continental stage brimming with hope — only to be met with a harsh reality.
The Angels struggled to find their rhythm and fell to a composed and youthful Kaohsiung Taipower squad from Chinese Taipei, 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, in their opening match of the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Monday afternoon at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Just nine days after capturing their first-ever All-Filipino title, the Angels looked disjointed against the seasoned Taiwanese powerhouse — nine-time Top Volleyball League champions — who leaned on the steady scoring of 21-year-old outside hitter Hsu Wan-Yun and 23-year-old wing spiker Tsai Yu-Chun.
With the win, Taipower remained unbeaten in Pool B with a 2-0 record and clinched the top spot to advance to the quarterfinals.
The tournament is organized by Sports Vision and backed by PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal, and The Look Group.
(C) PVL Images
“I was a little nervous because before, I was just a player, but I am a coach now. I trust my players to deliver in this game,” said Taipower head coach Chang Li-Yun, who once played under Petro Gazz mentor Koji Tsuzurabara in the Chinese Taipei women’s national team.
After dropping the third set — highlighted by a quick kill from Joy Dacoron and an ace by two-time PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle — Taipower regrouped and maintained composure in the fourth, weathering a spirited push from the Angels.
Petro Gazz tied the fourth frame at 8-all, appearing poised to carry over their momentum. But Taipower responded with a blistering 11-3 run, fueled by a Peng Yu-Rou quick hit, a running attack from middle blocker Hu Xiao-Pei, and an error from American wing spiker Gia Day. That sequence gave the Taiwanese side a commanding 19-11 lead.
The Angels tried to rally, trimming the gap to 22-18 behind three straight hits from All-Filipino Finals MVP MJ Phillips. However, a service error from Day, an ace from Peng, and another service miscue by team captain Remy Palma closed out the match in Taipower’s favor after one hour and 44 minutes of play.
“My players need more communication and teamwork heading into the quarterfinals, so we will work on that… Also serve, it needs to be stronger,” Chang added.
Hsu led the charge for Taipower with 18 points on 16 attacks, along with 14 excellent digs and three receptions. Peng and Tsai contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Team captain Huang Ching-Hsuan chipped in nine points, including two aces, while Hu and Lin Cai-Zhen added eight points apiece.
Despite the loss, Petro Gazz’s tournament hopes remain alive. The Angels face a must-win battle against Hong Kong’s Hip Hing on Tuesday at 7:00 PM, still at the Philsports Arena. A victory would secure their spot in the quarterfinals as the second seed from Pool B.
Should they advance, Petro Gazz will face the top team from Pool C, which includes Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An and Iran’s Saipa Tehran. The AVC Women’s Champions League also enjoys support from federation partners Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport.
(C) PVL Images
Day still made a strong impression in her Philippine debut, finishing with 18 points on 16 attacks and eight excellent digs. Van Sickle followed closely with 13 points on 11 attacks and eight digs.
Phillips added nine points, including three blocks, while veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas delivered eight points on seven attacks along with six excellent digs.
