Petro Gazz’s Jonah Sabete (20) played a vital role in the Angels’ Game 2 win over ZUS Coffee in the PVL quarterfinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO — Fit-again Jonah Sabete came back just in time to help Petro Gazz save its 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
After missing the past two months due to an injury, Sabete boosted Petro Gazz’s 25-19, 25-13, 28-26 sweep of ZUS Coffee that equalized their best-of-three series on Saturday at Ynares Center Antipolo.
Sabete was the Angels’ X-factor, delivering 11 points as a starting opposite spiker.
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Jonah Sabete on her comeback. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/XgPsn1TcQD
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 22, 2025
“I’m actually happy that I made it back, but the pressure is still there. It’s a lot of pressure, but I keep reminding myself that so many people are counting on me, [also on] defense,” said Sabete in Filipino.
After getting swept in Game 1, which snapped the Angels’ 10-game winning streak, Sabete was asked by coach Koji Tsuzurabara if she was ready to help the team.
Without hesitation, Sabete accepted the challenge and delivered as Petro Gazz stretched the series to a deciding Game 3 on Tuesday for the last semifinal slot.
READ: PVL: Petro Gazz gets back at ZUS Coffee, forces decider
“Honestly, we just didn’t pass the ball well enough. After that game, Coach Koji messaged me, asking, ‘Can you play 100%?’ I told him I’d try my best and that we’d work hard for the next game,” she said. “That’s what I did [even if] the pressure was there.”
Inspired by her teammates’ drive to move forward, Sabete is eager to bring the Angels back to the semifinals after a quarterfinal exit in the Reinforced Conference last year.