Petro Gazz to represent the Philippines in VTV Cup in Vietnam

May 22 ------ ANOTHER tour of international duty awaits reigning PVL champion Petro Gazz in the 2025 VTV Cup from Jun. 28 to Jul. 5 in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam. The Angels are set to be the third Philippine team and second from the PVL to fly the flag in the annual Vietnamese tilt. 

This comes just about two months since emerging as the best-performing Philippine team at sixth place in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League. Petro Gazz slots into Pool A with China’s Sichuan Women's Volleyball Club and the national teams of host country Vietnam and Australia. The opposite pool will feature Russian club and defending champion Korabelka, Chinese Taipei and the under-21 national teams of Vietnam and Thailand. 

Back in 2023, Choco Mucho soared to a remarkable bronze-medal finish in its first international competition as a club. Such a breakthrough came at Japanese college team Kansai University’s expense in the battle for third in four sets, 25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-18. Big bonuses also swung the Flying Titans' way as Sisi Rondina was named best outside hitter plum along with former team captain Maddie Madayag who was feted as the tournament's best middle blocker. 

The reins were then handed to UAAP champion National University in 2024 to represent the country. It was a valiant charge that had the Lady Bulldogs slide to an eighth-place finish in the eight-team tournament. That would be the last competition for National U before Sherwin Meneses’ arrival as head coach, with former champion mentor Karl Dimaculangan stepping in at the time at an interim capacity following Norman Miguel’s move to Chery Tiggo. 

Moving forward, the Angels under champion Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara have returned to team training after a brief break from their PVL and AVC stints. Yet to rejoin the team, however, are two-time PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle and reigning PVL Finals MVP MJ Phillips who has been training with Alas Pilipinas ahead of the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup in June. Van Sickle has also been invited to join the national team, but has yet to heed the call and train with the expanded player pool. 

Source: spin.ph