MANILA — Petro Gazz mounted a spirited comeback from a sluggish opening set to overpower the debuting ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-19, and capture the PVL Reinforced Conference championship on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import Lindsey Vander Weide delivered a commanding performance with 23 points built on 21 attacks, while also tallying nine excellent receptions to lead the Angels to their fourth PVL title — three of which have come in the Reinforced Conference.
Three-time PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle backed her up with 20 points, as Finals MVP MarJana Phillips and veteran hitter Myla Pablo chipped in 17 and 14 markers, respectively.
After sputtering in the first set, the Angels clawed back with gritty escapes in Sets 2 and 3, leaning on the offensive trio of Vander Weide, Van Sickle, and Phillips to seize a 2–1 advantage. Petro Gazz kept firm control in the fourth set, surging ahead 21-14 before withstanding a late ZUS Coffee rally. Consecutive hits from Van Sickle and Vander Weide ultimately shut the door on the Thunderbelles and sealed the championship.
Anna DeBeer led ZUS Coffee with 18 points, while Alexis Miner and Thea Gagate added 16 and 11 as the expansion squad secured its first-ever podium finish in the PVL.
In the bronze medal match, the Akari Power Chargers edged the PLDT High Speed Hitters in a thrilling five-set showdown, 15-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 20-18.
Annie Mitchem starred for Akari with a massive double-double of 36 points and 12 excellent receptions, repeatedly coming through in the clutch in the gripping final sets. Grethcel Soltones added a triple-double — 14 points, 10 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions—while Celine Domingo supplied nine markers.
PLDT was paced by Savannah Davison’s 30 points and Anastassia Bavykina’s 27, while Dell Palomata closed her final game before her stint as an import in Indonesia with 11 points./PN
