PETRO Gazz will hit the brakes on its storied PVL run after formally taking a leave of absence ahead of the 2026 season.
PVL control committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo confirmed the development to SPIN.ph on Saturday morning.
“Yes, they notified the PVL of their leave of absence,” he said.
The Angels become the second team to step away from the league in just over two months, following Chery Tiggo’s decision to cease operations late last year.
SPIN.ph has learned that the franchise was already planning to take a break from the league since the 2025 Reinforced Conference.
READ: This is how Nxled can still get Petro Gazz players - since merger a no-go
The PVL’s rejection of Petro Gazz’ proposed merger with Nxled ultimately forced the four-time champions into stepping aside, with no immediate alternative structure in place to remain active for the upcoming season.
Where to, Angels?
As a result, the Angels’ remaining 14 players, whether on expired or still-active contracts, will all enter free agency with just three weeks to go before the opening of the 2026 All-Filipino Conference.
The list of newly available talents is headlined by three-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle and two-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips, instantly reshaping the free agency landscape and giving multiple teams a rare opportunity to acquire championship-caliber cornerstones on short notice.
Petro Gazz exits, at least temporarily, as the second most successful franchise in league history.
Since joining the league in 2018, the Angels captured four championships and consistently positioned themselves as the most credible challengers to Creamline’s long-standing dynasty.
Whether Petro Gazz’s absence proves temporary or signals a longer hiatus remains to be seen, but its departure undeniably leaves a significant void in the league’s competitive landscape in this new year.
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