BY taking down a dynasty, Petro Gazz met its destiny.
The Angels are PVL champions for the third time in franchise history by dethroning Creamline in an instant four-set classic, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, in Game Three of the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference Finals on Thursday in front of a 10,226-strong Philsports Arena.
And after seven years, Petro Gazz finally has its hands on an elusive All-Filipino championship as the cherry on top of eight podium finishes — second-most behind Creamline in the league’s eight-year run.
Its latest crown jewel three years in the making completes a hat-trick of PVL titles for the Angels following their breakthrough title runs in the 2022 and 2019 editions of the import-laden Reinforced Conferences over Cignal and Creamline, respectively.
An unrivaled three-year reign in All-Filipino play came to a seething end for the Cool Smashers as their 11th league title will have to wait.
Angels join short list of All-Filipino queens
Not only did the Angels stop Creamline’s five-peat bid on its tracks but they also became only the fourth team in PVL history to win an import-less conference after Chery Tiggo (2021 Open) and defunct Balipure (2017 Open).
Six of nine Open/All-Filipino conferences ever played in eight years were won by Creamline.
Reigning conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle now has a PVL title and a first major league volleyball championship to her name in her near two-decade career after closing out her finals debut with 21 points, 18 receptions and nine digs.
"I'm just really proud of the team. We persevered through a lot. We had a lot of ups and downs. I'm just so proud [because] everyone has just that fighting spirit and everyone's just great people, on and off the court, just selfless people," said Van Sickle.
"I'm just really grateful to be on this team, to be surrounded by such wonderful women, to be able to call them my friends and family, and to be able to learn from them and grow."
First-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips normed 15.33 points in the title series capped by 15 points on 11 attacks and four blocks.
"I didn't want to lose that bad. I just kept looking at my teammates and had the eye contact, knowing that everyone has my back," Phillips said.
Jonah Sabete had 16 points powered by 22 excellent sets from 40-year-old veteran setter and now three-time PVL champion Chie Saet.
Even as Myla Pablo went scoreless in the rubber match as she manages a lingering calf issue, it was another veteran ace in Aiza Maizo-Pontillas who took charge in the utility winger post with seven points.
It was a title-clinching win that made Koji Tsuzurabara the first foreign head coach of a local PVL team to win a championship.
Creamline's great fall
For only the fourth time in league history, the Cool Smashers fall short in the PVL Finals.
Bernadeth Pons, a newly-crowned best outside hitter, still had herself a strong 17-point, 10-dig game behind a resounding triple double from Jema Galanza who had 15 points, 15 receptions and 14 digs.
Now three-time PVL best setter Kyle Negrito orchestrated 22 excellent sets as Pangs Panaga helped man the middle for the dethroned titlists with 11 markers.
All focus now shifts to the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League for both Petro Gazz and Creamline as Asian supremacy is up for grabs on home soil from Apr. 20 to 27, still at the historic Pasig City venue.
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