Angels show readiness for bigger battle after PNVF romp

The Angels celebrate and will come into the PVL armed with a new top gun and a lot of confidence. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Petro Gazz is confident that its newfound winning ways doesn’t end in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League, and that the Angels know they can contend for another when the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) gets off the ground in less than two weeks.

“I do believe that we’re a force to be reckoned with moving forward,” Brooke van Sickle, the Angels’ new dominant force, told reporters after leading Petro Gazz to the PNVF crown with a 25-19, 27-25, 25-22 victory over Cignal at Rizal Memorial Coliseum on late Saturday night.

Hailed as the tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), the recently recruited Van Sickle and Jonah Sabete led the Angels to the title-clinching victory after finishing with 20 and 18 points, respectively, serving notice of a new 1-2 punch that will be a potent force once the PVL opens.

“We’re slowly proving ourselves and we’re building confidence slowly as each day goes by. We’re building that team chemistry and everything,” she added after also being chosen as one of the best open hitters along with Sabete.

“[Winning the MVP honor is] just the cherry-on-top type of finish. I’m very proud of my entire team. I believe that we’ll be able to win. It’s just depending on if we came out firing. Everyone absolutely did that today (in the title game),” Van Sickle said.

Sixth the last time

Petro Gazz finished sixth in the recent All-Filipino Conference, but that’s something that the Angels are looking to improve on with their new coach Koji Tsuzurabara’s system leading them.

And the gold medal finish shows that they are working like a well-oiled machine, giving them enough steam ahead of the new season.

Van Sickle, though, somehow put the entire league on notice.

“There’s still more to come. We’ve kind of touched the surface on it, but there’s a lot of cool things that coach Koji wants to improve that we’re gonna still work on,” she said.

“[The championship is] a build up on our confidence. Moving forward, it just shows us that we are able to do it. As long as we have our minds set, work hard every single day, we can get stuff done,” the Filipino-American hitter went on.

“I’m very proud of our win. Sweeping Cignal in three [sets], that was tough. To be able to have the mental focus to do that, that’s huge.” INQ