Petro Gazz Reclaims PVL Reinforced Crown After Four-Set Triumph Over ZUS Coffee
Petro Gazz Angels is back on top of the Premier Volleyball League’s import-laced stage, reclaiming the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference championship with a hard-earned 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-20 victory over the rising ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win marked the Angels’ third Reinforced Conference title and fourth PVL championship overall, surpassing Creamline for the most titles won in the import-powered tournament. It also completed a remarkable season for the franchise, which won the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference earlier in the year.
Petro Gazz Peaks at the Right Time
The Angels’ road to the throne wasn’t easy. After an up-and-down 3–2 start in Pool B, they surged late, finishing the two-round eliminations as the No. 5 seed. From there, they dethroned defending champion Creamline in the quarterfinals and outplayed Akari in the semifinals to return to the championship stage.
Against the youthful but fearless Thunderbelles, Petro Gazz dropped the opening set before settling into rhythm. ZUS Coffee nearly went up 2–0, earning set point twice in the second frame, but Lindsey Vander Weide tied the score at 26-all, followed by Ranya Musa’s clutch block on Thea Gagate to steal the set, 28–26.
With momentum on their side, the Angels held firm in the third and slowly broke away in the fourth. Vander Weide’s late kills pushed Petro Gazz to championship point at 24–19. ZUS Coffee’s AC Miner kept the match alive briefly, but Myla Pablo delivered the down-the-line kill that sealed the title.
Veterans and Imports Power the Angels
Petro Gazz delivered one of its most balanced performances of the season, highlighted by:
- Lindsey Vander Weide – 23 points, 9 excellent receptions
- Brooke Van Sickle – 20 points, 7 excellent receptions
- MJ Phillips – 17 points; later named Best Player of the Game and Finals MVP
- Myla Pablo – 14 points, 11 excellent digs, including the championship-clinching hit
- Jules Tolentino – 20 excellent sets in her first finals appearance
The Angels dominated key areas: 69–57 in attacks, 13–10 in blocks, and 3–2 in aces, overcoming 25 errors with a steady, disciplined offense.
Vander Weide’s return from an ankle sprain suffered in the quarterfinals added inspiration, while Pablo’s late-tournament resurgence and Tolentino’s poise at setter steadied the team in crucial stretches.
(Video from the YouTube Channel of One Sports)
ZUS Coffee Falls Short, But Emerges as a New Contender
Though Petro Gazz claimed the crown, ZUS Coffee proved they belong among the league’s top teams. In only their second PVL season, the Thunderbelles finished second in both elimination rounds, swept Capital1 in the quarterfinals, and shocked PLDT in the semifinals to earn their first-ever finals berth.
Their young core showed promise:
- Anna DeBeer – 18 points; Best Foreign Guest Player
- AC Miner – 16 points
- Thea Gagate – 11 points
- Jovelyn Gonzaga & Chinnie Arroyo – 7 points each
DeBeer started strong but slowed down after Petro Gazz adjusted defensively, and a brief benching in the third set helped the Angels take control of the match.
Despite the defeat, ZUS Coffee’s campaign signaled the arrival of a future powerhouse, with DeBeer, Miner, and Gagate forming a formidable foundation.
A Fitting Return to Reinforced Dominance
Petro Gazz’s latest triumph adds to their 2019 and 2022 Reinforced titles, reaffirming their status as the league’s most successful club in the import-driven conference. After a turbulent campaign marked by injuries and lineup changes, the Angels rediscovered their championship form—and ended the season exactly where they wanted to be: back on top of the PVL Reinforced Conference.
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