Angels get payback against Cool Smashers

(UPDATE) TWO years ago, Petro Gazz took Game 1 of the 2023 PVL 1st All-Filipino Finals against Creamline to move on the cusp of a championship.

Only, the Angels yielded the next two games to the Cool Smashers and the latter claimed the title. Forward to the present, Petro Gazz once more gained the Finals series head start against Creamline but the latter leveled it by taking Game 2.

For the Angels, it appeared that the ghosts of the past had returned and were ready to write another haunting story for them.

Not again.

Led by back-to-back All-Filipino Conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle, Petro Gazz took care of business this time, wresting the championship before the boisterous 10,226 fans at the PhilSports Arena on Saturday evening, April 12.

Van Sickle, the Fil-Am hitter who entered the Philippine volleyball scene just last year, pumped 21 points on top of 18 excellent receptions and nine digs as the Angels topped the Cool Smashers in the deciding Game 3, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19.

The championship is extra special for Van Sickle since it's her first in a major league and true is the same for MJ Phillips, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, Chie Saet, Remy Palma, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, and Nicole Tiamzon since they were there already, the Angels core that suffered the Finals heartbreak.

This is their payback against their tormentors, their relief knowing that they prevented the same haunting story from happening again.

Phillips, who won the Finals MVP plum, said that the Angels simply learned from the mistakes of the past.

"I just think that we learned from the past and we came together," said Phillips, who racked up 15 points including four blocks in Game 3.

"Even when times were tough, our backs were against the wall, we all made sure to stay together and be patient because our time was going to come. Thankfully, it did. I'm just so proud of my team."

The 6-foot Phillips said she looked at the eyes of her faithful teammates to carry on.

"I just didn't want to lose that bad and I just kept looking at my teammates and just the eye contact and knowing that everyone has my back. Like, that's why they gave me the strength to be able to do what I do. It's all for my teammates. [I'm] happy."

For Sabete, who hammered 16 points in the decider including the championship point, she was just focused on playing and giving it her all.

Still, the thought of winning an All-Filipino tournament against the very team that denied her and her team the glory two years ago gave her more drive.

"Like MJ said, how do I explain it? Honestly, my only goal was just to play. That's all I was focused on. But I guess God really gave this to us too. I'm super proud of my teammates," said Sabete.

"We just kept telling each other to give it everything we've got, like there's no tomorrow — so we could finally win a championship and experience what it feels like to win the All-Filipino and it worked out."