PVL: Petro Gazz opens title bid with sweep of ZUS Coffee

Brooke van Sickle leads Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Petro Gazz opened its PVL Reinforced Conference title defense strong by dampening ZUS Coffee’s debut, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21, on Thursday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Last All-Filipino Conference’s Most Valuable Player Brooke van Sickle was still a formidable force for the Angels after pouring in 22 points behind 18 attacks, three aces and a block.

Van Sickle also added 11 excellent digs and six receptions as Angels reinforcement Wilma Salas added 15 points, 12 coming from kills, and 12 excellent receptions.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference

“I am excited to be back. This beginning of the [conference] is just super exciting. I feel like everybody’s a little tense a little bit but it was a great game,” Van Sickle, who unlike her debut in the last conference did not have any jitters, said.

“I thought ZUS Coffee had incredible defense, they’re super scrappy and they did great. I think with those kinds of teams you just have to stay calm and take it point-by-point cause they’re gonna make crazy ups and everything and you just gotta not let that affect you and just keep that offense fly and stick with it,” she added.

Remy Palma had seven points while Aiza Maizo-Pontillas six for Petro Gazz, which did not list yet the services of its rookies opposite hitter AA Adolfo from Adamson and setter Donnalyn Paralejas from Arellano.

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“I feel happy to come back to Philippines and I say every time that Petro Gazz is like my home, my family so I am very excited about this conference,” said Salas who last backstopped the Angels to a championship run in 2019 with the late Janisa Johnson.

“We did a good job last [conference] and there’s definitely pressure for sure this conference cause [we’re champions] back-to-back in the reinforced,’ Van Sickle said.

“Everyone is shooting for No. 1 and there can be pressure but we just gotta take it day-by-day and to make sure just to stay calm and … try our best and at the end of the day if it doesn’t happen at least be happy with our performance and [have] no regrets, basically,” she added.

Japanese spiker Asaka Tamaru’s 17 points were not enough for the Thunderbelles even as Michelle Gamit and Jade Gentapa, who made their PVL return after reigning in the NCAA with College of St. Benilde, scored seven points apiece.

Down by two sets, ZUS tried to make it a game with a 7-0 run to 18-15 with Jonah Sabete stopping the bleeding with a cross-court kill.

Van Sickle stepped on the gas pedal to bring Petro Gazz to a 23-17 lead even with the Thunderbelles trying to keep in step with their own defense before the Filipino-American nailed a kill and Chie Saet a 1-2 play to end the match.