Petro Gazz kicks off AVC campaign vs Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines — AFTER a successful Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference stint, newly-crowned Petro Gazz looks to display its high-caliber roster of players in the 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League when it clashes against Taiwan Taipower on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The three-time PVL champions Angels will open their AVC campaign at 4 p.m. against a formidable Taiwan squad.

Two-time All-Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) Brooke Van Sickle guns to flaunt her beastly form inside the court, while Finals MVP MJ Phillips will serve as the fortress at the net.

Having two main gunners on their side, the Angels still have no room for complacency.

Taipower made a statement in its first match in the AVC after dominating Hong Kong's Hip Hing, 25-10, 25-16, 25-14, on Sunday, April 20, taking the first win in Pool B.

Spiker Peng Yu-Rou mounted 16 points on 15 attacks to lift her squad to their first victory.

For Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzuraba, he is glad to go against his former players, and aims to use familiarity as an advantage.

"Taipower players were some of my players before. I am happy for them. Their coach, she was my player before, too. I am very truly happy," he said.

Petro Gazz will be reinforced by American Gia Day, a 6-foot-2 spiker who played for the US NCAA with University of Maryland.

Day can provide an insightful take on taking down Asian teams as she is a two-time Indonesia Proliga champion, and was awarded as the Best Outside Hitter in n Korea with Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks.

In Pool A, Creamline will face Kazakhstan club Zhetysu at 7 p.m.