Petro Gazz completes PVL quarterfinals cast by beating Capital1

November 17 ------ PETRO Gazz completed the eight-team playoff cast in one go with a 25-27, 25-13, 25-10, 25-13 victory over Capital1 in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center II in Montalban, Rizal.

The win snapped the 3-3 deadlock between the two teams entering the match and allowed the Angels to force a three-way tie for fifth place with Akari and Cignal. It also ended a concerning two-game skid that saw them get swept by ZUS Coffee and routed by Farm Fresh in four sets.

MJ Phillips turned in ungodly numbers for a middle blocker, firing 19 points built on 18 attacks and an ace. As usual, the Angels’ ever-lethal one-two punch delivered, with Brooke Van Sickle piling up 21 points, 12 digs, and four receptions, while import Lindsey Vander Weide added 22 points and 11 receptions. "I think we’re getting close to playing to our potential. We've kind of been hit and miss here and there. I think it’s the most complete game we played yet this season," said Petro Gazz head coach Gary Van Sickle. "I’m feeling confident with the team. We needed this win and we played like that where we brought good energy and stayed focused."

Barring the late nip-and-tuck in the opening frame, the fully fueled Angels cruised to three quick set wins, even leading by as many as 15 at one point. With a superior 11-match point haul, Petro Gazz officially shut the door on both Chery Tiggo EV and Choco Mucho, punching its ticket to the quarterfinals alongside Akari, Cignal, and Capital1. Only the final playoff seedings will be at stake in the last two game days of the elimination round next week.

The already playoff-bound Solar Spikers opened strong but lost all of their spark the rest of the way. Bella Belen led the charge with 18 points and 13 digs, backed by another promising outing from Ukrainian spiker Oleksandra Bytsenko, who tallied 17 points and 13 receptions. Rookie middle blocker Pia Abbu was the only other local who came close to helping drive the Capital1 offense, finishing with four points.

Source: spin.ph