Rousing return

American guest player Lindsey Vander Weide made a resounding reintroduction in a stellar debut in Petro Gazz’s equally impressive dismantling of Galeries Tower, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Thursday at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.

Back after a three-year absence, Vander Weide anchored the Angels’ torrid attacking for a quick one-hour, 27-minute welcome win for debuting head coach Gary Van Sickle.

The 6-foot-3 outside hitter fired 13 points to lead two other Petro Gazz players in double figures.

“I think we have a lot of depth this year,” Vander Weide observed on her return since towing the Angels to the 2022 import-flavored tournament throne.

Two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Brooke Van Sickle had a game-high 14 points while MJ Phillips added 12 points for Petro Gazz, which rained down 46 attack points and landed six aces.

Jonah Sabete chipped in eight points while Myla Pablo, Ranya Musa and setter Djanel Cheng added four each. Cheng dished out 14 excellent sets.    

“As you saw with players coming in. Anyone can step in the court makes a difference so that makes me comfortable playing with them,” added the 2022 Best Foreign guest player, who had nine kills, two aces and two kill blocks to go with eight excellent receptions.

“I know everybody around me is gonna do their job and it showed tonight, It was really a team win.”    

Petro Gazz, the reigning All-Filipino Conference champion, shook off a rusty start before racing to early leads in the next two frames to take full control of the match.

The Angels opened a 16-10 lead in the third set that eventually ballooned to 23-12 after a Van Sickle ace. Phillips brought Petro Gazz to match point, 24-13, before the Highrisers saved a point on a Jean Asis quick attack.

Pablo ended the match with a heady off-speed attack over the net defense of Galeries Tower.    

“It was good. I think we came up a little bit slow, but overall, it was a great team effort. I like what we saw. A little things we could fix in practice but overall it’s a good win. Any win is a good win in the PVL,” Angels mentor Gary Van Sickle said.

Highrisers Montenegrin reinforcement Jelena Cvijovic was limited to nine points. 

Dodee Batindaan got nine points while Asis fired seven.