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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Angels overpower Thunderbelles, reclaim PVL Reinforced Conference title

Angels overpower Thunderbelles, reclaim PVL Reinforced Conference title

Published Nov 30, 2025 09:01 pm

At A Glance

  • Shaking off a sluggish start, the Angels leaned on their championship poise anchored on the lethal frontline of Lindsey Vander Weide, Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips to regain control and reclaim a crown they last held in 2022.
Petro Gazz wins another PVL Reinforced Conference title. (PVL Image)
Petro Gazz wins another PVL Reinforced Conference title. (PVL Image)
Petro Gazz returned to familiar territory by overpowering a gritty ZUS Coffee squad, 21-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-20, to clinch the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference title before a lively crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, Nov. 30.
Shaking off a sluggish start, the Angels leaned on their championship poise anchored on the lethal frontline of Lindsey Vander Weide, Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips to regain control and reclaim a crown they last held in 2022.
It was their third title overall since joining the league in 2018, winning their first crown in the 2019 Reinforced Conference.
The latest victory also capped an up-and-down year for Petro Gazz, which opened the season by ruling the All-Filipino Conference in April but sputtered during the PVL On Tour, where it finished ninth.
“I’m just happy that we all came together and pulled this off,” said Phillips.
The championship feat also became a family affair for Van Sickle, who shared the moment with her parents — head coach Gary Van Sickle and assistant coach Lisa Van Sickle.
The second-generation spiker, who eventually clinched her third Most Valuable Player plum, poured all her 20 points on attacks, joining forces with Vander Weide, who paced the Angels with 23 points.
For a moment, ZUS Coffee appeared on track in completing its Cinderella run. Inspired by their straight-set semifinal win over the multi-titled PLDT High Speed Hitters, the Thunderbelles dominated the opening set with explosive plays anchored on import Anna DeBeer.
But Petro Gazz slowly rediscovered its fiery form as the trio of Vander Weide, Van Sickle and Phillips teamed up with veteran Myla Pablo, who also shone with 14 points.
DeBeer, who was in her first overseas stint, scored 18 points but her last-ditch efforts for ZUS Coffee went futile.
Still, the American standout was gracious in defeat.
“It was an incredible experience. I'm still proud of what we have accomplished even if (today) didn’t go our way,” said DeBeer.
AC Miner and Thea Gagate also scored 16 and 11 points in a losing effort for the Thunderbelles, who still finished with a franchise-best performance.
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