Petro Gazz Angels celebrate during a PVl semifinals win over Creamline.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO — The Petro Gazz Angels proved they weren’t just about reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle and resurgent star Myla Pablo.
Petro Gazz flaunted its depth to take down defending champion Creamline, 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, and win its first semifinal game in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at Ynares Center here
Van Sickle sustained her lethal form with 26 points. Pablo backstopped her with 11 points, while setter Chie Saet, the X-factor in their quarterfinal series comeback against ZUS Coffee, orchestrated the Angels’ balanced attack.
READ: PVL semifinals: Petro Gazz stuns Creamline
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara, Jonah Sabete, and Ranya Musa after overwhelming Creamline. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/CgCXdbNaCD
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 29, 2025
Against Creamline, one of the two squads that beat them this conference, Jonah Sabete pulled off the biggest surprise with 19 points, highlighted by five blocks.
“I just thought that they needed me, too. I didn’t focus on scoring points, what I really focused on was defense and blocking this game,” said Sabete in Filipino.
It was a collective effort but Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara credited the win to captain Remy Palma. Palma only played in the first set with two points but her impact kept the Angels together even after dropping the third frame.
“Today, our hero is Rem. She did not play in the second set [and remaining sets], but she always gather her teammates, and she gave a good atmosphere. She controls the team so we could win,” said Tsuzurabara.
“It’s also important to have someone remind us that once Creamline scores, we really need to counter right after. Somehow, we were able to do it well, even though sometimes we lost focus,” added Sabete on Palma’s leadership.
READ: PVL: Brooke Van Sickle, Petro Gazz toughened by stunning loss
Middle blockers MJ Phillips and Ranya Musa also contributed nine and seven points, respectively.
“Last year, when I played against Creamline, I wasn’t fully recovered from my injury yet. I was still in a lot of pain. At that time, I couldn’t jump,” said Musa.
“What I was thinking about was just helping the team. No errors.”
Through teamwork, the Angels even exorcised the ghosts of their past losses, winning their first game in black uniforms — they were wearing the same jerseys in their two defeats in the preliminary round to Creamline at the same venue in Antipolo and in quarterfinals Game 1 against ZUS Coffee.
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“My mindset earlier was just to go for it because we know Creamline will really fight,” Sabete said. “If I do my job well, everything else will follow. Somehow, the result turned out good for us.”
Petro Gazz eyes to zoom into the PVL finals when it eyes its second semis win against Choco Mucho on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
