By Will Imperial
Brooke Van Sickle secured the initial two points for Petro Gazz as the Angels pulled away in the first set, ultimately cruising to a 25-12, 25-20, 25-12 triumph over the Strong Group Athletics during Tuesday’s kickoff of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Despite early nervousness and uncommon errors, Petro Gazz showcased its prowess, highlighted by Nicole Tiamzon’s exceptional performance, tallying 13 hits and two aces.
The two-time Reinforced Conference champions asserted their dominance with potent wing hits from Tiamzon, Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, and Marite Espina, complemented by swift plays orchestrated by Ivy Perez and Djanel Cheng.
They also showcased their dominance in blocking, leading 4-1.
In his successful debut in the league organized by Sports Vision, Coach Koji Tsuzurabara acknowledged the team’s nervous energy but praised the players for their adaptability.
Marian Buitre, Joy Dacoron, and Michelle Morente stepped up when needed, contributing to the Angels’ victory in just 68 minutes.
“All players seemed nervous, so no good movement, so they made some mistakes,” said Tsuzurabara, who described his players’ performance as “so-so.”
Van Sickle, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the tense moments and credited the Athletics for their spirited performance.
Tiamzon, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction with playing all three sets but emphasized the need for the team to enhance chemistry and minimize errors.
The Angels dominated with 42 spikes compared to the Athletics’ 15, taking advantage of their rivals’ poor service reception to secure eight aces.
Skipper Dolly Versoza concluded with six points, while Jana Cane and Sheeka Espinosa added four and two markers, respectively, for the Athletics.
