HIGHLIGHTS: 2025 AVC Champions League – April 21
2025 AVC Champions League – Creamline Cool Smashers, PLDT High Speed Hitters, Petro Gazz Angels
2025 AVC Women’s Champions League SCHEDULE
Philsports Arena
- 4:00 p.m. – Petro Gazz Angels vs Taipower (Pool B)
- 7:00 p.m. – Zhetsyu VC vs Creamline Cool Smashers (Pool A)
AVC Champions League: Zhetsyu vs Creamline
AVC: Creamline no answer for ‘very talented, very tall’ Zhetsyu team
Ana Kudryashova and the Creamline Cool Smashers simply had no answer for Kazakhstan’s Zhetsyu in the AVC Champions League.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Ana Kudryashova’s familiarity with Zhetysu hardly mattered as Creamline was no match for the Kazakhs in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League Monday night.
Russian spiker Kudryashova and Kazakh middle blocker Nastia Kolomoyets play for VC Kuanysh in Kazakhstan and had already faced Zhetysu for several games.
Still, Zhetysu rolled to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-17, victory and dealt Creamline its first loss in the tournament.
AVC Champions League: Kazakhs too much for Creamline
Creamline Cool Smashers in the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Zhetsyu VC maximized its length and skill in a quick and calculated demolition of the Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17, in the AVC Women’s Champions League on Monday night.
Visibly head and shoulders above the Filipinos, the nine-time Kazakhstan women’s volleyball league champions were practically dominant from start to finish, opening their campaign on an auspicious note.
VIDEO: Post-game interview after Creamline loses to Zhetsyu
Zhetysu coach Marko Gršić after beating Creamline. #AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/qRBokykOmz
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Alyssa Valdez seeks to bounce back on a possible quarterfinals appearance despite finishing with a 1-1 record. #AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/AXB0p8YrMt
ADVERTISEMENT— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Ana Kudryashova hopes to bounce back in the #AVCChampionsLeague quarterfinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/g0wAsLNzbl
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Bernadeth Pons on representing the country with Creamline. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/KTfRaIqgqB
ADVERTISEMENT— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, Ana Kudryashova, and Bernadeth Pons after their first loss. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/9AhBLwxkz3
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
FINAL: Creamline finishes with a 1-1 record in Pool A after losing to Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu in straight sets. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/kaWD3GFJN2
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
FINAL: Creamline finishes with a 1-1 record in Pool A after losing to Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu, 16-25, 17-25, 17-25.#AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/2J3lLTJOAG
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
END OF SET 2: Zhetysu 25, Creamline 17
Zhetysu looking to hand the Cool Smashers' first defeat with a two-set advantage. #AVCChampionsLeague
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
AVC Champions League: Petro Gazz vs Taipower
Fresh off title, no pressure for Petro Gazz in AVC–Brooke Van Sickle
Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle in the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
With a short turnaround from their maiden PVL All-Filipino Conference, Brooke Van Sickle stressed that Petro Gazz Angels have flipped the switch and fully shifted their focus on facing tough teams in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League.
Just a week after their championship, two-time MVP Van Sickle continued to deliver the goods for Petro Gazz but the Angels still fell to Taipower of Chinese Taipei, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25, in their first Pool B game on Monday at Philsports Arena.
AVC: Gia Day in high spirits despite Petro Gazz loss
Petro Gazz import Gia Day in the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
It wasn’t the result Gia Day wanted but she relished her opportunity to play for the Petro Gazz Angels in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League.
Day topscored with 18 points off 16 kills, one block, and an ace, only for Petro Gazz to lose its first Pool B game to Taipower, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25, on Monday at Philsports Arena.
‘Flat’ Petro Gazz falls to Taipower in AVC Champions League debut
Brooke Van Sickle, left, and the Petro Gazz Angels during a loss to Taipower in the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Taipower simply watched the Petro Gazz Angels fall under the weight of their errors to prevail, 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, on Monday at the AVC Women’s Champions League at the Philsports Arena.
Hsu Wan-Yun and Peng Yu-Rou capitalized on most of these miscues and powered the visitors to the crossover quarterfinals following their straight-sets win over Hong Kong’s Hip Hing Women’s Volleyball Team the day before.
AVC: Petro Gazz coach takes blame for debut loss to Taipower
Petro Gazz coach Kaji Tsuzurabara during the AVC Champions League against Taipower.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara was thrilled to see his former player Chang Li Yun thrive as Taipower coach after the latter got the better of the Angels in their Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League duel.
Petro Gazz started its Pool B campaign with a tough 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25 loss to Taipower, which is composed of Tsuzurabara’s former players during his stint with the Chinese Taipei women’s national team from 2019 to 2022, on Monday at Philsports Arena.
VIDEO: Petro Gazz post-game interview after loss to Taipower in AVC debut
Brooke Van Sickle talks about her connection with Gia Day and MJ Phillips. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/f6KmGGP02a
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
Brooke Van Sickle and Gia Day vow to bounce back. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/3ugUHJnNji
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
Gia Day on her Petro Gazz debut. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/jwmSR71f6W
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
Brooke Van Sickle shares her thoughts after losing their first game. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/uDrt5mzUYj
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara, Gia Day, and Brooke Van Sickle after falling to Taipower. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/32yBbSKH0s
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
Petro Gazz still has a shot at quarterfinals
FINAL: Petro Gazz falls to Taipower of Chinese Taipei, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25.
The Angels try to claim the last quarterfinals berth in Pool B against Hip Hing of Hong Kong on Tuesday. #AVCChampionsLeague | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/iZJDStju3y
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 21, 2025
FINAL: Petro Gazz falls to Taipower of Chinese Taipei, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25.
The Angels try to claim the last quarterfinals berth in Pool B against Hip Hing of Hong Kong on Tuesday. #AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kVn5bzjr1s
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Petro Gazz fights back
END OF SET 3: Petro Gazz 25, Taipower 19
The Angels stay alive, forcing a fourth set. #AVCChampionsLeague
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
END OF SET 2: Taipower 25, Petro Gazz 16
Taipower continues to dominate the Angels with a 2-0 lead. #AVCChampionsLeague
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Angels need some catching up to do
Taipower with an 8-3 start in Set 2. #AVCChampionsLeague
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Taipower with the early lead against debuting Petro Gazz
Taipower overtakes Petro Gazz with a 9-4 lead. #AVCChampionsLeague
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
It’s on Petro Gazz opens its #AVCChampionsLeague campaign vs Taipower@INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/vobvNlP0YF
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
AVC: Thai coach Jang Bualee has full circle moment in return to PH
Nakhon Ratchasima assistant coach Jang Bualee of Thailand during the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Jang Bualee, one of the pioneering imports in Philippine volleyball, went full circle from playing in the Shakey’s V-League and the PVL to coaching and handling Nakhon Ratchasima in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League.
Bualee, a longtime player of coach Roger Gorayeb from San Sebastian in 2005 in the V-League and BaliPure in the 2017 PVL Reinforced Conference, relished her comeback in the Philippines, which hosted the first-ever Champions League.
VIDEO: Nakhon Ratchasima post-game interview
Anyse Smith after leading Nakhon Ratchasima to a winning debut in the #AVCChampionsLeague
Smith is ready to face PLDT on Tuesday for the No.1 seed in Pool D. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/VRJjawQmbu
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Former PVL import Jang Bualee, now an assistant coach and team manager for Nakhon Ratchasima, relishes her comeback to the Philippines in the #AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/r7Et3b4whK
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
FINAL: Nakhon Ratchasima (1-0) eliminates Queensland Pirates (0-2), 25-10, 25-16, 25-12.
PLDT also qualifies to the quarterfinals.
Nakhon Ratchasima and PLDT clash for Pool D’s top seed on Tuesday. #AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/yUlSerfwjg— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
FINAL: Baic Motor of China (2-0) sweeps Pool C after pulling off a come-from-behind 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-13, 15-10 win over Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An.
Baic Motor battles the No.2 seed of Pool B in the knockout quarterfinals. #AVCChampionsLeague @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kZEEFZHGFd
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 21, 2025
Myla Pablo looks to continue resurgence for Petro Gazz in AVC
Myla Pablo and the Petro Gazz Angels celebrate after winning the PVL All-Filipino Conference title.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Inspired by her resurgence that led to Petro Gazz’s breakthrough PVL All-Filipino Conference triumph, Myla Pablo is determined to continue the Angels’ winning ways while flying the flag in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League.
“Honestly, it’s overwhelming because everything’s been going up lately—one good thing after another. I’m really thankful and I just want to grab every opportunity that comes my way. The AVC is a different kind of challenge—it’s international, so I know I have to be extra prepared,” Pablo told Inquirer Sports in Filipino.
Petro Gazz taps American import Gia Day for AVC Champions League
Gia Day is the Petro Gazz Angels’ import for the AVC Champions League. –PETRO GAZZ PHOTO
Petro Gazz is bringing a formidable wing spiker rotation in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League, tapping American outside hitter Gia Day as its reinforcement.
The newly-crowned PVL All-Filipino Conference champion on Maundy Thursday unveiled its import for the Asian club tournament from April 20 to 27 at Philsports Arena.
AVC: Creamline imports connect right away in opening win
Creamline’s Erica Staunton and Anastasia Kolomoyets during the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Erica Staunton relished her connection with fellow imports Ana Kudryashova of Russia and Nastia Kolomoyets of Kazakhstan to give Creamline a winning debut in the (AVC) Champions League on Sunday at Philsports Arena.
Staunton, who led Creamline to a historic grand slam in the 2024 PVL season, picked up where she left off, pouring in 17 points built on 13 kills, three aces, and a block to win their first Pool A game with a 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 sweep of Jordan’s Al Naser Club.
AVC: Buoyed by crowd, Alyssa Valdez shows she still has it
Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez during the AVC Women’s Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Alyssa Valdez is honored to represent the country again, through the Creamline Cool Smashers in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League, in front of an energetic home crowd.
Valdez proved she can still shine on the international stage as she delivered 10 points off seven spikes, two aces, and a block to beat Jordan’s Al Naser Club, 29-27, 25-20, 25-19, in Pool A on Easter Sunday at Philsports Arena.
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