Petro Gazz Angels.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines-Brooke van Sickle and Jonah Sabete formed a lethal one-two punch to carry Petro Gazz past “scrappy” Akari, 25-21, 25-23, 25-17, in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Since losing to Choco Mucho in a thrilling five-set clash, the Angels logged their second consecutive sweep behind Van Sickle’s 24 points on 18 attacks, two blocks and four aces. Sabete, meanwhile, added 12 points from attacks.
Petro Gazz improved to a 3-1 to tie PLDT in the standings.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
“Credit to Akari. They’re a good team. They have really great hitters. Big team, scrappy too especially for their size. They put up a really great fight,” said Van Sickle, who produced her best outing yet in the PVL.
“There were moments where they would keep pushing and even though we’re up, they continued to come at us and our energy was kinda up and down for a little bit and we have to expect teams (to be like that),” she added.
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara maximized his three setters with Chie Saet getting the most of her playing time with seven excellent sets to sink Akari to a 1-3 slate.
“My goal for this conference is just to be consistent and I feel like my mindset going into the game is just one point at a time,” Van Sickle said. “It is what it is. If you make errors, things happen and we just gotta keep rolling.”
Petro Gazz Angels’ Jonah Sabete.–PVL PHOTO
Sabete was pleased to backstop Van Sickle as they worked to lift Petro Gazz to its goal.
“Actually noong dumating talaga si Brooke, sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na kailangan ko tumulong,” Sabete said. “Alam naman din ng mga teammates ko na if ever ipasok ako, kikilos at gagawa rin talaga. So No. 1 nalang is ‘yung consistency sa palo. ‘Yun nalang wino-work ko.”
“Challenging din sakin kasi minsan china-challenge rin niya ako sa training talaga. Hindi lang sa katawan kundi sa mindset ko talaga siya ‘yung nagwo-work so minsan lagi akong nafu-frustrate sa games kapag dumadating ‘yung errors. Siya ‘yung nasasandalan ko, siya ‘yung nakakita at siya ‘yung nagpapakalma sa akin. So ‘yung thankful sa kanila na nagwo-work naman,” Sabete added.
Eli Soyud was the only Charger in double digits with 13 points as Akari’s latest reinforcements delivered a lackluster outing.
Grethcel Soltones finished with only seven points while Ced Domingo added four.
“The PVL is good, right? We have to expect that teams, even though if they’re down by like a point or two, they’re gonna come firing and everyone wants to win, right? I think we just have to maintain better composure, better energy, and better focus as we continue,” the Filipino-American hitter said.