Petro Gazz quelled the buzz surrounding ZUS Coffee after its recent name change and acquisition of top rookies, securing a dominant 25-16, 25-21, 25-21 victory in a rousing start to its title defense campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.
Experience, bench depth and a tested reinforcement proved too much of a challenge for the Thunderbelles to overcome as the Angels bucked the absence of top middle MJ Phillips and soared from the opening serve all the way to Chie Saet’s 1-2 play that cut short ZUS Coffee’s rally late in the third frame, leading to the straight-set victory in Pool B action of the two-division, 12-team tournament.
“The team did a fantastic job. I’m just proud it’s our first game back and we were able to get things going,” said Fil-Am spiker Brooke Van Sickle, who sizzled with a 22-hit performance, including 18 on attacks.
“There are still things to work on but it’s looking good,” she added.
The Thunderbelles did try to strike back late in the third, pulling to within 15-18 and could’ve moved closer if not for a block touch off a Jonah Sabete hit that gave the Angels a four-point cushion instead. It was cruise control from there as the Angels, whose two league championships are both in this conference, including the last in 2022, rolled to a trouble-free victory.
“We stayed calm and collected, stayed together as a team,” said Van Sickle on how they handled their opponents’ last-ditch fightback.
“Eventually points will come, just don’t get stressed and too tight, just play volleyball and have fun,” she added, summarizing their dominance of the Thunderbelles.
Import Wilma Salas, back in the Angels' roster after leading the team to their 2019 title romp, backed Van Sickle with 15 points on 12 spikes and finished with 12 excellent receptions.
Phillips, meanwhile, was wearing a walking boot on her left foot and has told reporters that her condition is day-to-day.
Despite the convincing victory, coach Koji Tsuzurabara was far from satisfied, saying: “It was obvious in the performance, so we have to practice tomorrow, so we will polish our game more.”
ZUS Coffee actually threatened to equalize in Set 2 after taking a 21-19 lead, but that quickly vanished as Sabete, Van Sickle and Salas took over and delivered two points apiece to close out the set and go 2-0.
Van Sickle then anchored Petro Gazz’s 8-1 blast in the third set that turned a shaky 8-6 advantage into a 16-7 cushion.
Meanwhile, the Angels will be honoring Janisa Johnson this conference with an angel wing wrapped around her No. 10 placed on the right of their kits. The late import, who teamed up with Salas in their title conquest, succumbed to a long battle with colon cancer last May 24. She was 32.
“I am sad because of Janisa’s passing. I came to dedicate this conference to her, so every point, every decision we make on the team, we can think about Janisa,” said Salas.
Japanese import Asaka Tamaru, who played for Kurashiki Ablaze in the past Invitationals, paced the Thunderbelles with 17 points, eight receptions, and five digs, while Michelle Gamit and Jade Gentapa backed her up with seven points apiece.
