MANILA, Philippines – The Petro Gazz Angels survived a five-set comeback scare to take Game 1 of the 2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference finals over the five-peat-seeking Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10, at the Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, April 8.
Reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle rose to a big total of 24 points on 21 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace, to help send the Creamline dynasty on the brink of collapse.
FIFTH SET
- FINAL: The Petro Gazz Angels survive a five-set comeback scare to take Game 1 over the Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10.
- PETRO GAZZ 15-10: Aiza Maizo-Pontillas blocks Bernadeth Pons
- PETRO GAZZ 14-10: Bernadeth Pons attack out, net touch challenge unsuccessful
- PETRO GAZZ 13-10: Bea de Leon blocks Brooke Van Sickle
- PETRO GAZZ 13-9: Michele Gumabao down the line
- PETRO GAZZ 13-8: MJ Phillips hit off the overreceive, 6th Set 5 point
- PETRO GAZZ 12-8: Myla Pablo antenna hit
- PETRO GAZZ 12-7: Jonah Sabete through the block
- PETRO GAZZ 11-7: Michele Gumabao off the block
- PETRO GAZZ 11-6: Pangs Panaga running attack
- PETRO GAZZ 11-5: Jonah Sabete scores
- PETRO GAZZ 10-5: Ranya Musa serve out
- PETRO GAZZ 10-4: Jonah Sabete blocks Tots Carlos
- PETRO GAZZ 9-4: MJ Phillips hit off the overreceive
- PETRO GAZZ 8-4: Jonah Sabete combi play
- PETRO GAZZ 7-4: MJ Phillips quick attack
- PETRO GAZZ 6-4: Kyle Negrito sets to no one
- PETRO GAZZ 5-4: Michele Gumabao scores off the dig
- PETRO GAZZ 5-3: Aiza Maizo-Pontillas crosscourt
- PETRO GAZZ 4-3: Bea de Leon blocks Aiza Maizo-Pontillas
- PETRO GAZZ 4-2: Brooke Van Sickle crosscourt hit
- PETRO GAZZ 3-2: Bernadeth Pons down the line
- PETRO GAZZ 3-1: MJ Phillips ace
- PETRO GAZZ 2-1: MJ Phillips quick attack
- 1-1: MJ Phillips double contact
- PETRO GAZZ 1-0: MJ Phillips blocks Pangs Panaga
FOURTH SET
- END OF SET 4: Creamline rises from a two-set hole to stun Petro Gazz back to even, 25-20.
- CREAMLINE 25-20: Pangs Panaga hit off the overreceive
- CREAMLINE 24-20: MJ Phillips quick attack
- CREAMLINE 24-19: Kyle Negrito ace
- CREAMLINE 23-19: Jema Galanza through the block
- CREAMLINE 22-19: Chie Saet net touch, unsuccessful challenge
- CREAMLINE 21-19: Jema Galanza crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 20-19: Nicole Tiamzon through the block
- CREAMLINE 20-18: Jema Galanza down the line
- CREAMLINE 19-18: MJ Phillips blocks Jema Galanza
- CREAMLINE 19-17: Jema Galanza through the block
- CREAMLINE 18-17: Tots Carlos off the block
- 17-17: Bernadeth Pons down the line
- PETRO GAZZ 17-16: Jonah Sabete off the block
- 16-16: Jonah Sabete crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 16-15: Michele Gumabao serve goes wide
- CREAMLINE 16-14: Bernadeth Pons crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 15-14: Ranya Musa quick attack
- CREAMLINE 15-13: Bernadeth Pons through the block
- CREAMLINE 14-13: Brooke Van Sickle off the broken play
- CREAMLINE 14-12: Michele Gumabao through the block
- CREAMLINE 13-12: Brooke Van Sickle blocks Jema Galanza, 6-1 run
- CREAMLINE 13-11: Brooke Van Sickle through the block
- CREAMLINE 13-10: Bernadeth Pons not over
- CREAMLINE 13-9: Djanel Cheng error
- CREAMLINE 12-9: Brooke Van Sickle crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 12-8: Jema Galanza error
- CREAMLINE 12-7: MJ Phillips hit off the overreceive
- CREAMLINE 12-6: Myla Pablo attack error, 6-1 run
- CREAMLINE 11-6: Pangs Panaga blocks Myla Pablo
- CREAMLINE 10-6: Jema Galanza off-speed hit
- CREAMLINE 9-6: Jonah Sabete off the block
- CREAMLINE 8-5: Bea de Leon blocks MJ Phillips
- CREAMLINE 7-5: Bernadeth Pons combi play
- CREAMLINE 6-5: Myla Pablo crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 6-4: Myla Pablo off the block
- CREAMLINE 6-3: Bea de Leon blocks Brooke Van Sickle
- CREAMLINE 5-3: Bernadeth Pons scores
- CREAMLINE 4-3: Pangs Panaga serve out
- CREAMLINE 4-2: Michele Gumabao hit off the free ball
- CREAMLINE 3-2: Pangs Panaga quick attack
- 2-2: Bernadeth Pons not over
- CREAMLINE 2-1: Jema Galanza scores
- 1-1: Myla Pablo and Jema Galanza trade hits
THIRD SET
- END OF SET 3: Creamline finally awakens from its slumber with a 25-18 rout of Petro Gazz to survive.
- CREAMLINE 25-18: Tots Carlos crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 24-18: Kyle Negrito serve out
- CREAMLINE 24-17: Pangs Panaga running attack
- CREAMLINE 23-17: Pangs Panaga scores
- CREAMLINE 22-17: Pangs Panaga hit off the overreceive
- CREAMLINE 21-17: Brooke Van Sickle through the block
- CREAMLINE 21-16: Jema Galanza combi play
- CREAMLINE 20-16: Djanel Cheng double contact
- CREAMLINE 19-16: Bea de Leon quick attack
- CREAMLINE 18-16: Brooke Van Sickle through the block
- CREAMLINE 18-15: Brooke Van Sickle blocks Bea de Leon
- CREAMLINE 18-14: MJ Phillips quick attack
- CREAMLINE 18-13: Berandeth Pons ace
- CREAMLINE 17-13: Bernadeth Pons through the block
- CREAMLINE 16-13: MJ Phillips blocks Bernadeth Pons
- CREAMLINE 16-12: Creamline rotation error
- CREAMLINE 16-11: Bernadeth Pons crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 15-11: Jonah Sabete through the block
- CREAMLINE 15-10: Bernadeth Pons blocks Jonah Sabete
- CREAMLINE 14-10: Brooke Van Sickle crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 14-9: Jema Galanza ace
- CREAMLINE 13-9: Pangs Panaga quick attack
- CREAMLINE 12-9: Michele Gumabao down the line
- CREAMLINE 11-9: Jonah Sabete through the block
- CREAMLINE 11-8: Chie Saet ace
- CREAMLINE 11-7: Brooke Van Sickle off the block
- CREAMLINE 11-6: Jema Galanza crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 10-6: Michele Gumabao off the block
- CREAMLINE 9-6: Pangs Panaga quick attack
- CREAMLINE 8-6: Jema Galanza crosscourt hit
- CREAMLINE 7-6: Brooke Van Sickle off-speed hit
- CREAMLINE 7-5: Myla Pablo serve to net
- CREAMLINE 6-4: MJ Phillips error
- CREAMLINE 5-4: MJ Phillips quick attack
- CREAMLINE 5-3: Chie Saet misset
- CREAMLINE 4-3: Michele Gumabao off the block for Creamline’s first lead of the night
- 3-3: Rem Palma serve out
- PETRO GAZZ 3-2: Myla Pablo through the block
- 2-2: Pangs Panaga quick attack
- PETRO GAZZ 2-1: Brooke Van Sickle off the block
- 1-1: Jonah Sabete error
- PETRO GAZZ 1-0: Brooke Van Sickle hit off the overreceive
SECOND SET
END OF SET 2: Demoralized Creamline goes down two sets as Petro Gazz rolls to a 2-0 lead, 25-20.
PETRO GAZZ 25-20: Alyssa Valdez attack out
PETRO GAZZ 24-20: Brooke Van Sickle off-speed hit
PETRO GAZZ 23-20: Aiza Maizo-Pontillas crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 22-20: MJ Phillips serve out
PETRO GAZZ 22-19: Brooke Van Sickle off-speed hit to the middle
PETRO GAZZ 21-19: Alyssa Valdez crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 21-18: Myla Pablo off-speed hit
PETRO GAZZ 20-18: Michele Gumabao crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 20-17: Jonah Sabete down the line
PETRO GAZZ 19-17: Pangs Panaga quick attack
PETRO GAZZ 19-16: Myla Pablo crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 18-16: Tots Carlos off the block
PETRO GAZZ 18-15: Creamline attack error
PETRO GAZZ 17-15: Pangs Panaga blocks Brooke Van Sickle
PETRO GAZZ 17-14: Kyle Negrito 1-2 play
PETRO GAZZ 17-13: Brooke Van Sickle through the block
PETRO GAZZ 16-13: Bernadeth Pons scores
PETRO GAZZ 16-12: Brooke Van Sickle crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 15-12: Brooke Van Sickle down the line
PETRO GAZZ 14-12: MJ Phillips attack out
PETRO GAZZ 14-11: Alyssa Valdez down the line
PETRO GAZZ 14-10: MJ Phillips quick attack
PETRO GAZZ 13-10: Tots Carlos crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 13-9: MJ Phillips quick attack, in-out challenge successful
PETRO GAZZ 12-9: Alyssa Valdez crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 12-8: Rem Palma ace
PETRO GAZZ 11-8: Jonah Sabete blocks Alyssa Valdez
PETRO GAZZ 10-8: Myla Pablo hit off the overreceive
PETRO GAZZ 9-8: Bernadeth Pons serve out
8-8: Jonah Sabete not over
PETRO GAZZ 8-7: Jonah Sabete crosscourt hit
7-7: Bernadeth Pons crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 7-6: Brooke Van Sickle booming combi play
6-6: Chie Saet net touch
PETRO GAZZ 6-5: Bernadeth Pons off-speed hit
PETRO GAZZ 6-4: Brooke Van Sickle crosscourt
PETRO GAZZ 5-4: Bea de Leon blocks Brooke Van Sickle
PETRO GAZZ 5-3: Tots Carlos serve out
PETRO GAZZ 4-3: Tots Carlos crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 4-2: Jonah Sabete scores
PETRO GAZZ 3-2: Alyssa Valdez through the block
PETRO GAZZ 3-1: Jonah Sabete off the block, Pangs Panaga green card
PETRO GAZZ 2-1: Tots Carlos crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 2-0: Jonah Sabete off the block to end long rally
FIRST SET
END OF SET 1: Error-prone Creamline falls to defensive juggernaut Petro Gazz for the 25-17 opener blowout.
PETRO GAZZ 25-17: Rem Palma blocks Jema Galanza
PETRO GAZZ 24-17: Bea de Leon off-speed hit
PETRO GAZZ 24-16: Brooke Van Sickle ace
PETRO GAZZ 23-16: Tots Carlos serve out
PETRO GAZZ 22-16: Alyssa Valdez down the line
PETRO GAZZ 22-15: Brooke Van Sickle crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 21-15: Rem Palma not over
PETRO GAZZ 21-14: Donna Paralejas serve out
PETRO GAZZ 21-13: Aiza Maizo-Pontillas crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 20-13: Creamline net touch
PETRO GAZZ 19-13: Jema Galanza checks in, Tots Carlos attack out
PETRO GAZZ 19-12: Bernadeth Pons down the line
PETRO GAZZ 19-11: Myla Pablo crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 18-11: Bea de Leon blocks the Jonah Sabete combi play
PETRO GAZZ 18-10: Myla Pablo blocks Michele Gumabao
PETRO GAZZ 17-10: Bea de Leon hit off the overreceive
PETRO GAZZ 17-9: Alyssa Valdez off the block
PETRO GAZZ 17-8: Jonah Sabete crosscourt hit
PETRO GAZZ 16-8: Bea de Leon quick attack
PETRO GAZZ 16-7: Pangs Panaga serve to net
PETRO GAZZ 15-7: Chie Saet double contact
PETRO GAZZ 15-6: Rem Palma net touch
PETRO GAZZ 15-5: Alyssa Valdez attack out
PETRO GAZZ 14-5: Bernadeth Pons serve goes wide
PETRO GAZZ 13-5: Myla Pablo serve goes wide
PETRO GAZZ 13-4: Kyle Negrito serve out, challenge unsuccessful
PETRO GAZZ 12-4: Pangs Panaga quick attack
PETRO GAZZ 12-3: Pangs Panaga net touch
PETRO GAZZ 11-3: Myla Pablo down the line
PETRO GAZZ 10-3: MJ Phillips quick attack
PETRO GAZZ 9-3: Kyle Negrito hit off the overreceive
PETRO GAZZ 9-2: Myla Pablo blocks Bernadeth Pons, 7-0 run
PETRO GAZZ 8-2: MJ Phillips quick attack
PETRO GAZZ 7-2: Jonah Sabete blocks Bernadeth Pons
PETRO GAZZ 6-2: Myla Pablo dump off the overreceive, timeout Creamline
PETRO GAZZ 5-2: Bea de Leon not over
PETRO GAZZ 4-2: Alyssa Valdez attack out
PETRO GAZZ 3-2: Rem Palma quick attack
2-2: Bea de Leon hit off the overreceive
PETRO GAZZ 2-1: Brooke Van Sickle down the line
1-1: Chie Saet serve out
PETRO GAZZ 1-0: Chie Saet ace
STARTERS
Creamline: Pangs Panaga, Bea De Leon, Tots Carlos, Kyle Negrito, Bernadeth Pons, Alyssa Valdez, Kyla Atienza (L)
Petro Gazz: MJ Phillips, Rem Palma, Jonah Sabete, Chie Saet, Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, BLove Barbon (L)
PREVIEW
Two of the winningest teams in Premier Volleyball League history are headed for a showdown in the 2025 All-Filipino Conference finals as the Creamline Cool Smashers stage a five-peat conference title bid against longtime rivals Petro Gazz Angels starting Tuesday, April 8, at the Araneta Coliseum.
The gap between the two franchises sharing the “winningest” tag, however, cannot be overlooked, as the Creamline dynasty is already on the hunt for its 11th PVL title, while far, far down at second place on the all-time title leaderboard is Petro Gazz, currently on the hunt for gold medal No. 3.
Still, the Angels are undisputedly the best challengers the mighty Cool Smashers can get, as likely back-to-back MVP winner Brooke Van Sickle, finally heading to her first PVL finals, is still bringing the pain on the taraflex night in and night out.
The true difference-makers, however, lie in Van Sickle’s support group, as Fil-Am star blocker MJ Phillips and two-time PVL MVP Myla Pablo are back in full health, once again showing their full capabilities on offense and most notably on net defense.
This power shift was on full display in the round-robin semifinal round, with Petro Gazz downing Creamline in four sets to deliver a clear statement to the defending champions.
Conversely, health has been the Cool Smashers’ nagging problem all conference long, as they have rotated injury tags among their “Holy Trinity” MVP trio of Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza.
Currently, it’s Galanza’s turn on the shelf with a minor hand injury, but Bernadeth Pons — yet another Creamline MVP — is picking up the slack in her teammate’s absence.
Both teams have a lot at stake come Game 1, with Petro Gazz aiming to prove its semis win was no fluke, while Creamline guns for a quick leg up over its healthier opponent. Which side of the rivalry will strike first in the best-of-three affair?
First serve is at around 6:30 pm, right after the Akari vs Choco Mucho bronze medal series. – Rappler.com