MANILA – The Petro Gazz Angels launched their Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference campaign with a resounding statement, sweeping the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, on Thursday at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.
The win not only gave Petro Gazz a commanding start but also marked a successful debut for new head coach Gary Van Sickle, whose system quickly took shape through disciplined execution and steady composure.
Veteran setter Djanel Cheng led the orchestrated assault with 14 excellent sets and chipped in four points, ensuring a smooth rhythm that kept the Highrisers out of sync. Petro Gazz’s floor defense and transition game also proved too sharp, particularly in the third set where they raced ahead early and never looked back.
“Ang focus muna namin is a win and kung ano ‘yung mangyayari sa game na ‘yun, ‘yun ang aaralin namin for the next game,” Cheng said, underscoring the team’s one-game-at-a-time mentality despite the dominant opening performance.
The Angels’ blend of experience and renewed energy was evident as they weathered early Galeries rallies before methodically pulling away in each set, signaling their readiness to contend for another title in the reinforced era.
Meanwhile, the Farm Fresh Foxies also made noise in their conference opener, outlasting the Nxled Chameleons in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21.
Belgian import Helene Rousseaux introduced herself in spectacular fashion, exploding for 38 points built on 31 attacks, three blocks, and four aces, while adding 15 excellent receptions and eight digs — a near triple-double in her PVL debut.
Team captain Trisha Gayle Tubu added 10 points, Frances Molina chipped in nine, and Alyssa Bertolano impressed in her transition to libero with 15 excellent digs.
For Nxled, Chiara May Permentilla and Paola Martinez fought valiantly with 18 and 15 points, respectively, but their efforts fell short against the Foxies’ balanced attack./PN
