Petro Gazz gives Gary Van Sickle winning debut with dominant sweep of Galeries

The Petro Gazz Angels soared back into PVL action with the poise of champions, sweeping the Galeries Tower Highrisers in straight sets, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, to open their 2025 Reinforced Conference campaign on a high note Thursday night at the City of Dasmariñas Arena.

It wasn’t just another win — it was a triumphant start to a new chapter under Gary Van Sickle, who marked his first game as Petro Gazz head coach with a victory that showcased both cohesion and depth.

After a seesaw battle in the opening frame, the Angels gradually found their rhythm, tightening their net defense and punishing Galeries with transition offense. By the third set, they were in complete control, closing out the match in just an hour and 19 minutes.

“It’s been positive, not just because we won, but everyone’s friendly, the environment is electric, so that makes it fun to coach,” said Van Sickle, visibly pleased after his debut. “The competition, like I said, is pretty good. Coaches on the other side are tough, so we’re making adjustments as we go.”

“I like what we saw, the little things that we can fix, we can do that in practice, but overall it was a good win. Any win is a good win in the PVL.” 

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PVL | FINAL:

MVP Brooke Van Sickle, returning import Lindsey Vander Weide and MJ Phillips lead Petro Gazz (1-0) over Galeries Tower (0-1) in the official #PVL2025 Reinforced Conference opening game!

Import Jelena Cvijovic paces the sorry loss for the Highrisers. pic.twitter.com/kDQU1ky7LM

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) October 9, 2025

With the import clearance saga finally settled between the PVL and PNVF, Petro Gazz’s familiar faces returned to action — and delivered.

Lindsey Vander Weide, the 2022 Reinforced Conference Finals MVP, wasted no time reminding fans of her brilliance. Back for her second stint with the Angels, she led all scorers with 15 points and eight excellent receptions, seamlessly slotting back into the system that made her a champion three years ago.

Meanwhile, two-time league MVP Brooke Van Sickle — fresh off her stint with Alas Pilipinas — was in her usual lethal form, putting up 14 points and six digs, while her sister MJ Phillips provided balance on both ends with 12 points, including four blocks.

Setter Djanel Cheng orchestrated the offense with 14 excellent sets and added four points, proving her veteran presence remains invaluable to the Angels’ fast-paced attack.

For the Highrisers, it was a rough outing in Godfrey Okumu’s PVL debut as head coach. Despite flashes of promise, the Kenyan mentor’s squad couldn’t sustain momentum, with no player breaching double figures in scoring.

Montenegrin reinforcement Jelena Cvijovic, in her first PVL game since 2022, was limited to nine points, matching the output of local middle Dodee Batindaan. National team setter Julia Coronel had 13 excellent sets in a losing effort.

With a convincing start and their full arsenal finally intact, Petro Gazz sent a clear message: the two-time Reinforced Conference champions are back — and ready to reclaim their throne.

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