Fresh off a historic title run in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Petro Gazz is determined to reaffirm its dominance—this time on the continental stage—as the Angels gear up for a daunting Pool B campaign in the 2025 AVC Women’s Club Championship.
After dethroning the dynastic Creamline Cool Smashers in a grueling three-game Finals series last week, Petro Gazz aims to carry the momentum of its long-awaited championship—a title seven years in the making—into a new challenge: facing nine-time Top Volleyball League champions Taipower of Chinese Taipei and rising Hong Kong squad Hip Hing.
With just a week to prepare for their debut in the inaugural AVC club tilt, the Angels are banking on the tactical brilliance of Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara, who brings familiarity with Chinese Taipei’s volleyball system after coaching their women’s national team from 2019 to 2022.
“My team is in the big group, right? One Hong Kong team, and another one under Chinese Taipei, TaiPower. TaiPower players were some of my players before. I am happy for them. Their coach, she was my player before too. I am very truly happy,” said Tsuzurabara.
Adding firepower to their roster, Petro Gazz will be bolstered by All-Filipino Conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle and Finals MVP MJ Phillips, both of whom are considered imports due to their ties with USA Volleyball. The team also made the most of its lone foreign reinforcement spot by acquiring 6-foot-2 American outside hitter Giovanna Day.
(C) LOVB
Day brings valuable international experience to the Angels’ continental debut, having played professionally in six countries: France (Pays d’Aix Venelles), Puerto Rico (Sanjuaneras de la Capital), Italy (Itas Ceccarelli Martignacco and CDA Talmassons), Indonesia (Jakarta Pertamina Enduro), South Korea (Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks), and the United States (LOVB Atlanta).
Anchored by the dynamic duo of Van Sickle and Phillips, and supported by key contributors like Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, and Day, Petro Gazz is not only eyeing one of the two coveted tickets to the 2025 FIVB Club World Championships—but is also cherishing the opportunity to proudly represent the Philippines alongside fellow PVL squads Creamline and PLDT.
At the net, team captain Remy Palma will be joined by the towering presence of Phillips, Marian Buitre, and Ranya Musa. Djanel Cheng and veteran setter Chie Saet, now 40, will orchestrate the offense, while Baby Love Barbon and Jellie Tempiatura will hold the fort on the defensive end.
“I’m super stoked. Yeah, this is my first time with international play. So, I’m just excited to, like, see good volleyball and just be able to see, you know, how other countries play the sport and to learn from them and grow and just to see, like, intensity. So, I’m super stoked,” said Van Sickle.
“I wish the best for PLDT and Creamline also because at the end of the day, we’re representing the Philippines. So, I want Philippines teams to win. So, I’m going to be there cheering. Yeah, I want one of us to win. So, I’m very excited to watch,” she added.
Petro Gazz opens its AVC campaign against Taipower on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Philsports Arena, before wrapping up Pool B play against Hip Hing on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
