PVL: Jonah Sabete, Petro Gazz finally get over All-Filipino hump
Jonah Sabete and Petro Gazz celebrate after winning the PVL All-Filipino title.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After three tries and overcoming adversities, Jonah Sabete finally helped Petro Gazz win its first-ever PVL All-Filipino Conference title.
In Game 2 of the Finals, Sabete and the Angels were haunted by the ghosts of their past after squandering their chance to close out the series–reminiscent of their 2023 title duel where Petro lost the series despite taking the opener.
But Sabete refused to let history repeat itself and experience the same heartbreak as she drilled the game-winning cross-court hit to overthrow Creamline’s dynasty, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, in Game 3 before a loud 10,000 crowd on Saturday night at Philsports Arena.
READ: PVL: Petro Gazz dethrones Creamline for first All-Filipino crown
MJ Phillips, Brooke Van Sickle, Jonah Sabete, and Myla Pablo after winning Petro Gazz’s first title. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/YIwrrlJ977
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 12, 2025
“Honestly, I just wanted to play my game—that was my goal. But I really believe God gave this to us, too. I’m super proud of my teammates. We also told each other to fight like there’s no tomorrow, to give it everything we’ve got so we could finally win the championship and experience that All-Filipino title. And it worked out,” said Sabete in Filipino after dropping 16 points in Game 3.
The championship was nothing short of fulfilling for the 31-year-old wing spiker and the Angels, who lost to the Cool Smashers in the 2019, 2022 and 2023 Finals.
“We were super happy—of course, it’s our first time. We’ve made it to the finals a few times before. But this time, step by step, everything just clicked during the All-Filipino Conference,” said Sabete, part of Petro Gazz’s first two Reinforced Conference titles. “It feels great because that’s what management really wanted—to bring home an All-Filipino championship.”
READ: PVL: Jonah Sabete returns to help Petro Gazz stay alive
Sabete missed the first two months of 2025 due to an injury. But the Angels remained formidable, winning 10 straight games en route to the quarterfinals, only for play-in survivor ZUS Coffee to send them to the brink of elimination after sweeping Game 1.
With their backs against the wall, the veteran spiker returned to action and led the Angels to a series comeback over the revamped Thunderbelles that set the tone for their three-game sweep of the semifinal round.
Petro Gazz will have about a week to cherish its sweetest championship run before going back to work for the AVC Champions League from April 20 to 27.
