THE end of the road has come for the Philippine contingent in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.
Petro Gazz gave it a proper go but ran out of gas in the end to China’s Beijing BAIC Motor, 29-31, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 12-15, in their knockout quarterfinal on Friday at the Philsports Arena.
As Petro Gazz joined Creamline and PLDT by the wayside, Beijing BAIC Motor’s drive to Asian supremacy continues against Vietnam star Tranh Thi Thanh Thuy (T4) and five-time domestic league champion VTV Bình Điền Long An on Saturday.
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An early 4-3 Angels lead in the fifth set was quickly erased by a momentum-shifting 7-1 run led by captain-slash-ace spiker Ye Jin, who took matters into her own hands and unleashed a tournament-best 37 points,
The Angels did show poise early and pushed the Chinese side to the limit in a nip-and-tuck opening frame, even as the towering Chinese team converted seven kill blocks compared to none from the reigning PVL champions.
Five chances to close out the set went to waste for Petro Gazz as a Chie Saet setting error and Brooke Van Sickle's late attack fault handed Beijing the early lead.
A resurgent Angels side unleashed the same fighting energy in the second set but with a different ending this time as Jonah Sabete’s quick hit capped a 7-2 set-clinching blitz to draw level.
American winger Gia Day continued her takeover of the match by going full throttle in the fourth set where she produced a huge chunk of her 35-point performance along with 15 digs and 10 receptions.
Sabete and MJ Phillips, two key cogs in Petro Gazz' recent PVL All-Filipino title run, combined for 26 markers in a gallant stand for the erstwhile last Philippine team standing.
Van SIckle, who for her part fired 17 points, 22 digs and seven receptions, felt that the Angels gave it everything they've got in one of their best showings all-tournament long despite the early playoff exit.
"I thought, defensive-wise, this was probably one of our better games. Does it mean that? Maybe? I don't know. But yeah, it was a good fight. That was awesome to be able to come out as a team, stick together no matter what, and push," BVS said.
"How coach Koji [Tsuzurabara] puts it, China's, like, in the top class in the world, that division. Just to be able to go five sets with them is super unreal so I'm just really happy with everyone's fight."
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