No upsets this time as Angels shut down Solar Spikers

The Angels’ 1-2 punch of Brooke Van Sickle (left) and Myla Pablo deliver again. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

A major upset that rocked the PVL All-Filipino Conference recently sent shock waves that the rest of the league felt.

“Two days ago, Cignal versus Galeries. Cignal lost, so we were very worried,” Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara admitted.

But the Angels quickly restored order in the quarterfinal race, proving why they are among the league’s elite.

Behind the dynamic duo of Myla Pablo and Brooke Van Sickle, Petro Gazz extended its dominance, sweeping Capital1, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21, to book a ticket to the best-of-three quarterfinals on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena.

The Angels, who topped the preliminary round with a 10-1 (win-loss) record, cruised to their 10th consecutive victory and secured a showdown against the No.7 seed.

Van Sickle powered Petro Gazz with 19 points, built on 15 spikes, two aces and two blocks, while Pablo delivered 17 points off 15 kills, one block and an ace.

“I thought Capital1 did a fantastic job—they definitely came out fighting today,” Van Sickle said. “We started off a little shaky in the first two sets. When Myla was [sent back] in the third, we settled down.”

Van Sickle, who also tallied 14 excellent receptions and nine digs, emphasized that while their streak builds confidence, complacency is not an option.

“To have 10 wins is great for morale, but we can’t relax. At this stage, it doesn’t matter anymore. There are still more games ahead, and we just have to keep pushing and improving. It’s a long journey.”

Pablo, on the other hand, provided a lot of veteran smarts.

“I’ve been playing for a long time now. I’ve been through a lot, especially when it comes to playoffs. As a player, it’s not just about strength. You also need to be smart,” Pablo told the Inquirer. —WITH A REPORT FROM LANCE AGCAOILI