In her second PVL stint, Lindsey Vander Weide led Petro Gazz to another PVL Reinforced Conference championship.
Lindsey Vander Weide could not have wished for a more fitting return to the PVL stage.
Three years after powering Petro Gazz to the 2022 Reinforced Conference crown, the American import once again stood at the center of celebration as the Angels clinched the 2025 title in the same import-laced tourney via a four-set win over ZUS Coffee Sunday night, Nov. 30.
For Vander Weide, the championship was especially meaningful given the roller-coaster season that Petro Gazz had to navigate.
“It's awesome. I said in the beginning, ‘Let’s run it back,’ and I wouldn't say I was half-joking, but you never know what's going to happen,” Vander Weide said during the post-game press conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“For us to pull it out and beat some of the top teams in the end just shows how much grit this team has. We knew we had it all along. It just came out at the end.”
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Twice the sweetness
MJ Phillips, Brooke Van Sickle and Lindsey Vander Weide ham it up for the camera. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
The victory marked Vander Weide’s second championship with Petro Gazz, making her the only import to have won the PVL title twice.
“Of course, twice is always a little nicer, for sure,” she said with a smile.
“Just the fact that I got to do it with Petro Gazz again is awesome, and doing it with so many of the same girls is awesome. This team has so much grit, and it really just shows itself as the best.”
[ALSO READ: PVL: Brooke Van Sickle cops third MVP; Anna DeBeer is Best Foreign Guest Player]
Petro Gazz celebrates its 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference title. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Third title with Petro Gazz?
As for her future, Vander Weide did not give a firm answer, but she made one thing clear: If she ever suits up for another PVL Reinforced run, she knows exactly where she wants to be.
“Who knows? If I'm coming back, I'd love to be with this team,” she said.
“I'd definitely be interested in another Reinforced Conference.”
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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.