Two years after squandering a 1-0 series lead and falling short in the Finals, the Petro Gazz Angels are back on the Premier Volleyball League’s grandest stage – the All-Filipino Conference Finals – this time, better, bolder and more determined than ever to finish what they started.
No longer just a dark horse, Petro Gazz has emerged as a battle-hardened contender with a mission: to capture its first-ever All-Filipino crown and seal a dream that has eluded them for years, despite two championships in the Reinforced Conference.
"We’re extremely happy because every team dreams of becoming a champion," said veteran setter Chie Saet in Filipino, a key figure in the Angels' resurgence. "We really worked hard for this. We sacrificed a lot. That’s why now, we’ll find a way – we’re going to finish what we started."
Few players are more fired up than Myla Pablo, who has weathered challenges to return to peak form. Her clutch performances helped Petro Gazz overcome powerhouse squads Creamline and Choco Mucho, punching a golden ticket back to the Finals.
"It's really different when it's the All-Filipino," said Pablo. "In the Reinforced Conference, the focus is on the import, but here, everyone contributes and works together as a team."
But Pablo is quick to share the spotlight, crediting Brooke Van Sickle for her tireless effort across conferences, as well as the team’s deep bench and steady setters.
"This Finals is for Brooke," said Pablo. "Her contribution has been incredible. Even during team-building, we already said—this is for her. All of us stepped up, even the substitutes."
Van Sickle, who has become a cornerstone of the squad, likens their Finals run to a dream realized.
“It feels very surreal,” said the Fil-American standout. “It’s been a long, grueling conference, and to be here now is amazing. I wouldn’t want to do this with any other team.”
With the Finals looming, Van Sickle is focused on recovery and preparation, especially after a marathon of matches from the prelims to the quarterfinals to the semis.
“There’s no secret,” she said. “What you see is what you get. Right now, it’s all about healing and being 200 percent ready – physically and mentally.”
Veterans like Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Djanel Cheng have also stepped up, helping fortify Petro Gazz’s depth. For Saet, the team’s mission is simple: maximize everyone’s strengths and move as one cohesive unit.
"Our mindset is not just to play," said Saet. "Coach Koji (Tsuzurabara) told us – go into the Finals with 200 percent. So that's exactly what we're going to do."
Their opponent? A familiar foe in Creamline, a 10-time PVL champion with an all-star cast led by Tots Carlos, Bernadeth Pons, Alyssa Valdez, Bea de Leon and Pangs Panaga. But Petro Gazz already proved in the semis that no mountain is too high when a team plays with heart, unity and belief.
Now, with four days to recover and recalibrate before the best-of-three showdown on Tuesday, the Angels stand at the cusp of destiny. The scars of the past still linger – but this team is ready to write a different ending.
This time, it’s not just about getting to the Finals. It’s about finishing the story.
