2022 Reinforced Conference champion Lindsey Vander Weide relishes return to the finals with Petro Gazz

The Petro Gazz Angels reinforced their status as one of the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) elite squads, mounting a stunning comeback to defeat the Akari Chargers, 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13, in the semifinals of the Reinforced Conference on Thursday, November 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brooke Van Sickle once again proved why she is arguably the league’s top performer, earning Best Player of the Game honors after tallying 23 points, 13 digs, and 18 receptions. Veteran scorer Myla Pablo also delivered a stellar outing with 26 points.

Star import Lindsey Vander Weide, who powered Petro Gazz to the 2022 Reinforced Conference title, saw limited action due to an ankle injury but remains determined to replicate her past success in her return to the franchise.

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“It’s been awesome. I said if I ever came back to the Philippines, that it would be with Petro Gazz again, and I’m just so happy that I did. It’s a lot of the same girls as it was back in 2022. And I said in the beginning, literally the first day I got here, I looked at Bang Pineda and I said, ‘let’s run it back,’” Vander Weide said in the postgame press conference.

Vander Weide was named Best Import in 2022 and embraced her homecoming, especially with several champions from that squad — Pablo, MJ Phillips, Bang Pineda, Djanel Cheng, and Jonah Sabete — still donning the Angels’ colors.

Lindsey Vander Weide shared that from the moment she arrived, she was fully locked in with Petro Gazz as they prepared for the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference. She also highlighted the noticeable rise in the level of volleyball in the Philippines since she last played in 2022. pic.twitter.com/UtPiAlVxR6

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She also praised the team’s upgraded roster depth, noting that any player can make a decisive impact.

“I would say it’s a different lineup that we had back in 2022. But at the same time, those players who aren’t in could step in at any moment. We have such a good depth on our team and at the same time, such good experience. We have such experienced players on the bench. Like Myla Pablo coming in and scoring however many, 23, 26 points last game, just shows that we can take anybody off the bench and they can be a game changer.

“I think that’s kind of the difference from 2022. We kind of had to rock with who we had then. Now we have so much depth that it just feels even better,” she added.

The 27-year-old also acknowledged the significant rise in the PVL’s level of competition since her last stint.

“The level of volleyball, I would say, is higher than it was in 2022. Also, there are more teams, so you have to face a lot more teams to get there. I wouldn’t say it was an easy road for us. 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, so there it is,” Vander Weide said.

With the victory, the Angels are now one win away from claiming their third PVL Reinforced Conference crown. They will battle the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the finals on Sunday, November 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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