There seems to be no stopping Petro Gazz.
The Angels extended their surge with a tough 25-20, 24-26, 28-26, 25-20 victory over the hard-fighting ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Thursday, securing their sixth consecutive win and reclaiming the top spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries at the Philsports Arena.
But the Angels had to navigate a perilous path to secure the victory. After cruising through the opening set, they found themselves locked in an intense battle, surrendering a grueling extended second frame. With momentum shifting back and forth, the next two sets turned into hard-fought wars, each point fiercely contested.
Petro Gazz endured relentless pressure from a determined ZUS Coffee side that refused to back down, forcing long rallies and capitalizing on every opening. Every attack was met with resolute defense, every block countered with smart adjustments. The Angels had to dig deep, showing composure in clutch moments to escape with the win in a match that tested their patience and resilience to the very end.
"ZUS Coffee’s defense was ‘insane’ – probably one of the best I’ve faced in a long time," said Van Sickle, who, despite the Thunderbelles' tenacious resistance, delivered a stellar 27-point performance to earn Player of the Game honors.
"They really tested our patience, and we just had to stay calm and composed throughout the match," she added, capping off her standout effort with 15 excellent digs.
With an impressive 7-1 record, Petro Gazz surged ahead of the idle yet unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers in the 12-team race, accumulating 20 points and tightening their grip on a potential top seed for the knockout playoffs. Now, with three matches remaining against struggling teams, the Angels are in prime position to cement their dominance heading into the postseason.
The Angels upcoming schedule includes matchups against the Capital1 Solar Spikers (1-7) on Feb. 11, the Galeries Tower Highrisers (1-7), and the winless Nxled Chameleons (0-8) on Feb. 20. While no victory is guaranteed, these teams – despite their struggles – will be looking to play the role of spoilers, making every game a must-win for Petro Gazz in their quest for playoff supremacy.
Pablo continued to shine, delivering another stellar performance with 22 points, including crucial clutch hits that highlighted her resurgence. MJ Phillips also played a key role, contributing 10 markers to help propel the Angels to a hard-earned victory in a grueling two-hour, 18-minute battle.
Despite being outgunned in spikes, 68-55, the Thunderbelles kept the match fiercely competitive by capitalizing on Petro Gazz’s miscues, earning 32 free points while surrendering 24 of their own.
Kate Santiago led ZUS Coffee with 21 points, while Chai Troncoso finished with 19 markers and Jovelyn Gonzaga and Michelle Gamit contributed eight and seven points, respectively, for the Thunderbelles, who dropped to 4-5.
Van Sickle set the tone for the Angels' explosive finish in the pivotal third set, delivering six straight points, with her final strike securing another go-ahead set point. However, the Thunderbelles refused to fold, saving it for the second consecutive time and setting the stage for yet another dramatic showdown.
With the set hanging in the balance, Myla Pablo rose to the occasion. She atoned for the Angels’ earlier missed opportunities, including back-to-back flawed serves, by firing a decisive kill before sealing the deal with a through-the-block hit, propelling Petro Gazz to a crucial 2-1 set advantage.
It was more of the same in the fourth with the Angels asserting control early and the Thunderbelles mounting a fierce comeback, fueled by Santiago’s relentless efforts. But the two-time Reinforced champions proved steadier in crunchtime. Their combined efforts in the closing moments of the last two sets anchored Petro Gazz’s hard-fought victory.