Head coach Gary Van Sickle says two key factors led to Petro Gazz playing its best volleyball yet as the Angels gear up for a knockout PVL quarterfinal showdown vs the Creamline Cool Smashers.
The Petro Gazz Angels are heading into the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference quarterfinals playing their sharpest volleyball of the tournament.
And for head coach Gary Van Sickle, the timing couldn’t be better.
The Angels sealed the No. 5 seed after a gritty four-set win over the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25-21, 27-25, 23-25, 25-21, on Thursday, November 20, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Import Lindsey Vander Weide exploded for a conference-high 35 points, while Brooke Van Sickle added 27 markers to power the Angels to a momentum-boosting victory.
Beyond the numbers, coach Van Sickle said two major changes allowed Petro Gazz to finally unlock its best form.
Finding the right lineup fit
The Angels’ early inconsistency, Van Sickle said, came from trying to determine which combinations worked best together.
Over the past two games, rookie Jules Tolentino has taken over the lead setter role, while veteran Bang Pineda has gotten more playing time as the lead libero, which eventually led to her Player of the Game honors against the High Speed Hitters.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Jules Tolentino gets full backing as lead setter in Petro Gazz’s crucial win over Capital1]
“I think it was just trying to feel out the best girls, the fit,” he explained during the post-game press conference. “We switched our liberos, so that was a change. At practice, we’ve been moving the pieces around, and I think we finally found the right fit.”
A fully healthy Lindsey changes everything
Coach Van Sickle also revealed that Vander Weide had been playing through multiple setbacks.
“Lindsey’s coming around. She had a little hamstring thing, which is healed now, and she actually had the flu for a couple of weeks,” he said. “Now she’s 100%. That helps a lot.”
Her 35-point eruption was proof that Petro Gazz’s offense is back to firing on all cylinders.
“It’s just a matter of working at practice and getting the reps in. I think we’ve got the team that gels the best right now,” he added.
Quarterfinal showdown vs Creamline looms
Petro Gazz now gears up for a high-stakes quarterfinal clash with rival Creamline on Monday, November 24, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
[ALSO READ: Creamline-Petro Gazz showdown headlines high-stakes PVL Reinforced quarterfinal slate]
In last year’s tournament, the Cool Smashers eliminated the Angels in the quarterfinals before going on to win the whole thing.
With Vander Weide healthy and the right lineup finally in sync, the Angels believe they’re entering the knockout phase at exactly the right time.
“They’re a really tough team,” Van Sickle acknowledged. “We need to go back, watch film, make adjustments, and be on our A-game because they’re going to bring theirs.”
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.