Three years later, Lindsey Vander Weide stands on cusp of second PVL Reinforced title

Three years after lifting Petro Gazz to the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference crown, American import Lindsey Vander Weide is one win away from repeating history.

This time, she says the journey feels just as meaningful, if not tougher, after the Angels outlasted the Akari Chargers in a five-set semifinal thriller, 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13, on Thursday, November 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

After the match, Vander Weide, who finished with 18 points, reflected on how far Petro Gazz has come since its early-season struggles.

“The level of volleyball is higher than it was in 2022. There are more teams, so you have to face a lot more to get there,” she explained during the post-game press conference.

“We were in the bottom half after the first part of the season, so that wasn't a comfortable spot to have to play with top teams going into the playoffs. But I think it made us better having to play with top teams going into the playoffs,” she added.

Running it back after three years

For Vander Weide, returning to the Angels wasn’t just a choice — it was a promise.

“I said if I ever came back to the Philippines, it would be with Petro Gazz again, and I’m just so happy that I did,” she said. “It’s a lot of the same girls as 2022. On my first day back, I looked at Bang [Pineda] and said, ‘Let’s run it back.’”

But unlike their dominant run three years ago, Petro Gazz had to navigate a turbulent climb to reach the PVL Reinforced Finals in this edition. They finished the preliminaries in fifth place with a 5-3 record.

The Angels showed remarkable veteran poise against two-peat PVL champions PLDT High Speed Hitters in the last day of eliminations, defending Reinforced champions Creamline Cool Smashers in the knockout quarterfinal, and then against upstart Akari Chargers in the semifinal.

“We were a little shaky at the beginning of the season, and everybody was like, okay, we have time. And then once we turned it around, I knew we'd be going to the playoffs.”

A harder road back to the top

Despite the three-year gap, Vander Weide believes she hasn’t changed much individually. Instead, it’s the team around her that has evolved.

“I’m a pretty similar player. My mental toughness has been locked in for years. I’m just glad I can still play at a high level,” she said.

“What’s different is our depth. In 2022, we had to rock with who we had. Now, we have players who can come in anytime and be game changers.”

[ALSO READ: From Ducks to Angels: Lindsey Vander Weide, Brooke Van Sickle team up again in Petro Gazz]

Now just one win away from the title, Vander Weide looks to become the first PVL import to win two PVL Reinforced crowns.

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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.