Petro Gazz, ZUS Coffee set up surprise PVL Reinforced Conference Finals showdown

The PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals delivered two unexpected results on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum, as Petro Gazz and ZUS Coffee booked their spots in a one-game championship duel after contrasting victories.

Petro Gazz Survives Five-Set Thriller vs Akari

Petro Gazz pulled off a hard-fought 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13 win over Akari, overcoming a late-match collapse and a gritty Chargers fightback to move one step closer to reclaiming the Reinforced Conference title.

The Angels looked in full control after taking the first two sets, but Akari responded with a strong surge in the third and fourth to force a decider. The fifth set turned into a tense back-and-forth battle featuring 11 ties and five lead changes before the match ended on an attack error by Grethcel Soltones.

“I think it goes to show that it does not matter how we start, but what matters most is how we finish. In the beginning of the season it was a little hard. This time, we showed grit,” said Petro Gazz coach Gary Van Sickle.

Playing without injured import Lindsey Vander Weide, Petro Gazz leaned on a vintage performance from Myla Pablo, who delivered 26 points. Import Brooke Van Sickle added a triple-double of 23 points, 13 digs, and 18 receptions, while rookie setter Jules Tolentino tallied 27 excellent sets.

The victory keeps Petro Gazz on track to extend its Reinforced Conference championship pattern after winning titles in 2019 and 2022 and claiming their seventh finals appearance. 

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RISE OR REIGN?

Her-story will be rewritten this Sunday as the Petro Gazz Angels take on the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in a winner-take-all finale of the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference!#PVL2025 #TheHeartOfVolleyball #PVLFinals pic.twitter.com/fZdmsnqsK2

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) November 27, 2025

ZUS Coffee Sweeps PLDT in Breakout Performance

In the other semifinal, ZUS Coffee earned the biggest win in its young franchise history, sweeping PLDT 25-22, 28-26, 25-22 to secure its first PVL finals appearance.

The Thunderbelles controlled the match from start to finish, showing poise far beyond their experience level. Import Anna DeBeer starred once again with 30 points, including 19 across the first two sets, and delivered the crucial hits in the tight endgame of the third frame.

Chinnie Arroyo provided strong support with 18 points, while the middle blockers added key contributions—14 points from the center position and 11 combined markers from Thea Gagate and Miner.

Even when PLDT tied the third set at 21-all through a putaway by Mika Reyes, ZUS Coffee responded with a decisive scoring burst behind DeBeer to close out the upset.

PLDT’s Nastya Bavykina (16 points) and Savi Davison (15) led the High Speed Hitters, who will now play Akari in the bronze medal match.

Unexpected Finals Matchup

The results set up a finals showdown between the seasoned Petro Gazz Angels and the surging ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles—an unlikely pairing that emerged from a semifinal round filled with momentum swings and standout performances.

Petro Gazz will lean on its finals experience, while ZUS Coffee will try to continue its rapid rise after a breakout conference.

The winner-take-all championship match is set for Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

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