Before the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference tipped off, Petro Gazz was hailed as a strong contender for the title.
As the defending champions, the Angels had a reputation for thriving in import-laden seasons, having clinched PVL crowns in 2019 and 2022.
The return of Wilma Salas, their standout reinforcement from 2019, further fueled expectations for another championship run.
However, the Angels' journey in the current conference has been far from smooth. Drawn into a competitive Pool B with formidable teams like Cignal, Akari, Choco Mucho, Capital1, and ZUS Coffee, Petro Gazz faced a series of unexpected setbacks after a promising start.
Although they secured an opening win against the Thunderbelles, they soon found themselves on a downward trajectory.
Petro Gazz was stunned by a straight-sets defeat to the Solar Spikers, suffered a reverse sweep against the Chargers, and most recently, succumbed to the HD Spikers in three sets on Thursday. With a 1-3 record, the Angels now languish in the lower half of their pool.
Brooke Van Sickle, the 2024 All-Filipino Conference MVP, acknowledged the evolving competitive landscape of the PVL.
"As I said from Day 1, the league’s getting better and every conference goes on, the PVL just keeps getting better and better, and all these girls are improving. Teams are just getting good," she remarked, underscoring the league's increasing parity.
Van Sickle’s stellar performance, including a 28-point outburst in a losing effort against Cignal, has not been enough to halt the Angels' slide. The team is grappling with personnel issues and a string of defeats that have placed them at risk of finishing in the bottom three of their group.
This would result in facing the top three teams from Pool A in the next round.
"I wouldn’t say panic, but yeah, of course, going off three losses is not what we wanted. We have to take those lessons, we have to learn fast because pool play is almost over," Van Sickle said.
“There is a sense of urgency for sure, and we’re putting ourselves in a situation where we’re making it harder for ourselves,” she added.
With one final match against Choco Mucho on Tuesday, Petro Gazz is on the brink of a crucial test. The Angels need to rally and reverse their fortunes to salvage their title defense and secure a favorable position heading into the next stage of the conference.
