PVL: Petro Gazz dethrones Creamline to clinch first All-Filipino crown
Petro Gazz Angels celebrate after scoring the clincher and winning the PVL All-Filipino Conference championship vs Creamline Cool Smashers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
LIVE: PVL All Filipino Finals Game 3 – Creamline vs Petro Gazz
From challengers to champions.
The Petro Gazz Angels finally shed their tag as perennial contenders, forcing the Creamline Cool Smashers to relinquish their throne in a gripping 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19 triumph in Game 3 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals on Saturday night.
Jonah Sabete fired a stinging crosscourt hit at match point, ending years of frustration as the Angels finally quenched their thirst for the trophy that eluded them many times over.
Brooke Van Sickle was noticeably a nightmare for the opposing side, terrorizing the Cool Smashers with timely smashes while helping protect the Petro Gazz floor throughout the four-setter.
“Against Creamline, you can’t let up. They’re a team that continues to fight and keeps coming at you. They won’t stop no matter what the score is,’’ said Van Sickle, adjudged as the conference MVP for the second tournament without imports in a row.
Petro Gazz Angels: PVL All-Filipino queens at last. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Van Sickle’s piercing strike to the back row near the end of the fourth and an unchallenged ace brought them closer to the title.
“I’m very, very proud of the team and I just can’t believe this happened. Everybody did a fantastic job,’’ said Van Sickle after putting together another splendid output of 21 points, 17 of them attacks.
She also had two aces and led the resistance in slowing down the Creamline offense with 18 receptions and nine digs.
Backing her up were Sabete, who had, 16 points and MJ Phillips, who tallied 15 points and had four blocks. Chie Saet was likewise superb in keeping their offense humming with 22 excellent sets.
“Our team has been through a lot and we came together when the time was right and we showed a lot of resilience and grit,’’ said Phillips, the runaway Finals MVP.
Petro Gazz Angels’ coach Koji Tsuzurabara (right) and captain Remy Palma. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Winners of two reinforced conference titles, the Angels erased the frustrating memory of their piercing defeat to Creamline in the first all-Filipino championship series two years ago.
Aside from thwarting the Cool Smashers from annexing their dominance for four straight conferences, Petro Gazz halted Creamline’s bid for three consecutive all-Filipino plums.
“I just want to bring the championship to Petro Gazz and so we did. I just tried to stay focused, my team has my back all the way. And yah, it’s a total team effort,’’ said Phillips.
The Cool Smashers looked every inch the 10-time champions of the PVL after they rushed to pull away out of the gates.
But Van Sickle heated things up, compiling a cluster of smashes capped by a power tip that wiped out Creamline’s five-point advantage.
After Mary Joy Dacoron closed the door on a Michelle Gumabao entry at the net came the turn of Sabete in consummating the turnaround.
The champs are here! #PVL2025 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/73fkuB3heG
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 12, 2025
Sabete’s spike off the block and a flawless toss by Saet again allowed the former to punch another sharp blow at set point.
Gaining confidence from that reversal, the Angels accelerated in the second frame by zooming to a 14-7 advantage built on several power shots and blockings.
Sabete’s dink was energized further by back-to-back aces courtesy of setter Djanel Cheng, pushing the Angels beyond reach with a 10-point cushion and silencing the Creamline faithful.
The Angels weren’t done yet with their aces as Nicole Tiamzon’s serve forced the Smashers into another miscue immediately after Tots Carlos’ service error.
Van Sickle walloped it off the block in the next sequence and Cheng set up Phillips for a hammering thwack that terminated the set.
With the bubble thought of a victory at hand, the Angels engaged the Smashers in a fiery exchange of firepower before eventually throwing away the chance for a straight-set win that could have gifted them the trophy outright.
Lorie Bernardo and Jema Galanza saved the set for the three-time all-Filipino titleholders together with Pons and Carlos, neutralizing their string of errors and giving themselves the opportunity to equalize.
Carlos more than made up for the four attack mistakes she committed by deflecting Sabete’s projectile, arranging the stage for Pons to secure the set point with a hit off Van Sickle’s hand.
Then the Angels tore down part of the Cool Smashers empire in the fourth set.
