Petro Gazz put on a masterclass in all-around volleyball excellence, breaking Cignal’s formidable four-game winning streak and halting the recent trend of marathon matches with an emphatic 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 victory at the Philsports Arena on Saturday night.
The impressive win allowed the Angels to soar to the top of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference standings just before the league entered its holiday break with the two-time Reinforced Conference champions firmly establishing themselves as a team to watch.
The one-hour, 35-minute victory not only avenged their Nov. 16 straight-set loss to the Creamline Cool Smashers but also marked Petro Gazz’s fourth straight win, pushing their record to 5-1.
Brooke van Sickle anchored the Angels' dominant performance, dishing out a scintillating 19-point effort that highlighted her versatility and court awareness. She showcased her lethal offensive skills with powerful attacks while also standing tall on defense with six kill blocks, a testament to her impeccable timing and anticipation.
Her all-around brilliance epitomized the Angels’ strategy of combining aggressive net play with a tenacious defensive system.
After a commanding first-set performance and a gutsy come-from-behind victory in the next, the Angels showcased their dominance in the third, establishing a 13-9 lead and never looking back.
With Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips stepping up to join the offensive fray, the Angels widened the gap to 21-15, putting themselves in prime position to seal the match.
The Angels’ surge was fueled by exceptional floor defense, which not only thwarted Cignal’s offensive attempts but also set up clean transition plays. These opportunities allowed van Sickle and Phillips to deliver decisive blows.
Phillips, known primarily as a middle blocker, surprised the opposition with a rare opposite-side attack that stretched the lead to 22-16, underlining the versatility and unpredictability of Petro Gazz's offense.
“I’m just super proud of the team,” said van Sickle, who nailed another Player of the Game honors. “Being able to come off with a win going into the Christmas break is super huge. Everyone who came off the bench did a fantastic job, and the starting six played just as steady.”
Reflecting on their gritty second-set comeback, she emphasized the importance of unity and composure, saying: “It’s one of those things – whether you’re down or ahead—you just have to stay together as a team, stay calm, and try your hardest to see what kind of magic you can make work.”
But there was no need for a magical rescue act – only relentless effort and precision execution. The Angels’ victory was a product of discipline, teamwork and hard work, with every player contributing to their strong finish before the holiday break.
Pablo also continued to dish out stellar play, finishing with 15 points, all on attacks, while Phillips added 11 markers for the Angels, who whipped the HD Spikers in attacks, 49-32.
Petro Gazz’s blocking was also crucial factor in their surprise rout of a Cignal squad that had cruised through their last four opponents with relative ease. The Angels' disciplined blocking, led by van Sickle and her frontline teammates, consistently frustrated Cignal's hitters, forcing them into errors or trifling attack attempts.
They finished with 10 kill blocks, seven more than the HD Spikers.
Ces Molina scored 10 points while Vanie Gandler finished with nine markers and Jackie Acuña and Roselyn Doria-Aquino each contributed six points for Cignal.
