Petro Gazz reclaimed the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference crown after defeating ZUS Coffee, 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-20, on Sunday night before a packed crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Angels leaned on the strong return of import Lindsey Vander Weide, the steady production of Conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle, and the timely scoring of Myla Pablo to secure their second championship of the year, following their All-Filipino title earlier this season.
The championship-clinching play came off a Bang Pineda dig and a Jules Tolentino set to Pablo, who delivered the finishing hit to an open Zone 5 to seal the match and Petro Gazz’s third Reinforced Conference title.
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MJ Phillips overcame a slow start to finish with 17 points, earning Best Player of the Game and Finals MVP honors. She credited the team’s improvement throughout the season.
“This championship means a lot to us, especially because we were really rocky in the beginning,” Phillips said. “But we came together and pulled this out.”
Tolentino, a rookie setter, also impressed in her first finals appearance with 20 excellent sets, closely matching ZUS Coffee playmaker Cloanne Mondonedo’s 21.
“I’m very thankful sa mga ates and coaches ko. They guided me all throughout,” Tolentino said, after repeatedly connecting with Phillips in the closing stretch.
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Vander Weide, who returned from an ankle sprain suffered in the quarterfinals, led Petro Gazz with 23 points. Van Sickle added 20, while Pablo fired 14.
The Angels outplayed the Thunderbelles in attacks (69-57), blocks (13-10), and service aces (3-2), overcoming 25 unforced errors with their balanced scoring.
ZUS Coffee import Anna DeBeer, who secured the Best Foreign Guest Player award, finished with 18 points but slowed down as the match progressed. AC Miner added 16, while Thea Gagate had 11.
Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo chipped in seven apiece.
The Thunderbelles, in only their second year in the PVL, capped a breakthrough campaign that saw them finish second in both elimination rounds. They then swept Capital1 in the quarterfinals, before upsetting PLDT in the semifinals and eventually falling short in their first finals appearance.
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DeBeer started strong but was briefly benched in the third set as Petro Gazz’s defense adjusted, a stretch that allowed the Angels to take control and eventually grab a 2-1 set lead.
Petro Gazz’s title run capped a turbulent conference marked by roster tweaks and injury setbacks. Vander Weide’s quarterfinal scare and a near-collapse against Akari in the semifinals tested the Angels, but they regained form with Pablo’s late-tournament surge and their veterans’ steady play.
The victory continued the Angels’ Reinforced Conference success, adding to titles won in 2019 and 2022.
Despite the loss, ZUS Coffee emerged as a growing contender, with DeBeer’s leadership and a promising local core positioning the Thunderbelles as a potential future powerhouse.
