Petro Gazz Angels

Petro Gazz Angels

Short name	Petro Gazz
Nickname	Angels
Founded	May 6, 2018;7 years ago (2018-05-06)
Dissolved	January 10, 2026;19 days ago (2026-01-10)
League	Premier Volleyball League
Uniforms
Home Away
Championships
Premier Volleyball League: 4 (2019 Reinforced, 2022 Reinforced, 2024–25 All-Filipino, 2025 Reinforced) PNVF Champions League: 1 (2024)

The Petro Gazz Angels were a professional women's volleyball team playing in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). ^{[1] [2]}

History

The team debuted in the 2018 PVL Reinforced Conference. Petro Gazz Angels was primarily composed of former players from CSB Lady Blazers in the NCAA and DLSU Lady Spikers in the UAAP. ^[1]

Petro Gazz won their first conference in the 2019 Reinforced Conference, followed by a 2022 Reinforced Conference title under coach Rald Ricafort. They often lost to the Creamline Cool Smashers in the finals. ^[3]

Under Oliver Almadro, Petro Gazz finished second in the 2023 First All-Filipino Conference. However the latter half of the 2023 season, Petro Gazz's worse finish; ninth place in the Invitational under Almadro and sixth place in the Second All-Filipino Conference under Timmy Santo Tomas. ^[3]

At the start of the 2024 season, the club hired Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara. Petro Gazz return to the podium after finishing third at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference. However in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, Creamline ended Petro Gazz' stint in the quarterfinals. ^[3]

The Petro Gazz Angels during the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League

Petro Gazz took part at the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference. As one of the top two teams in the prelimary round they qualified for the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Champions League. ^[4] They later finished their campaign by winning their first ever All-Filipino Conference in April 2025. ^[5] The team competed in the AVC tournament hosted at in Pasig within the same month. Their run ended in the quarterfinals and was eliminated by Chinese club BAIC Motor. ^[6]

They were supposed to compete at the VTV Cup but was replaced by the national team.

In October 2025, Petro Gazz brought in Gary and Lisa Van Sickle as head coach and assistant coach respectively aiming for a more "American-style of play". The couple are parents of player Brooke Van Sickle. ^[7] The team went on to obtain their fourth overall title by winning the 2025 Reinforced Conference. ^[8]

On January 7, 2026, the PVL blocked a merger of Petro Gazz with the Nxled Chameleons with the former could be potentially be disbanded rather than formally merged to the latter. ^{[9] [10]}

On January 10, 2026, the team officially filed a leave of absence from the league after seven successful years with a total of 4 PVL trophies, 3 runner-up finishes, and 2 bronze finishes, citing financial concerns. ^[11] Team manager David Dichupa clarified however that the team is not yet technically dissolved and it has a "very big chance" to return to the PVL. ^[12]

Rivalry with Creamline

Main article: Creamline–Petro Gazz rivalry

Petro Gazz was involved in a rivalry with the Creamline Cool Smashers. Despite the latter's dominance, Petro Gazz won two of their three league championships against Creamline.

Honors

Team

Premier Volleyball League:

Season	Conference	Title	Source
2018	Reinforced	5th place	[13]
	Open	4th place	[14]
2019	Reinforced	Champions	[15]
	Open	Runner-up	[16]
2021	Open	3rd place	[17]
2022	Open	Runner-up	[18]
	Invitational	6th place	[19]
	Reinforced	Champions	[20]
2023	1st All-Filipino	Runner-up	[21]
	Invitational	9th place	[22]
	2nd All-Filipino	6th place	[23]
2024	All-Filipino	3rd place	[24]
	Reinforced	6th place	[25]
2024-25	All-Filipino	Champions	[26]
	PVL on Tour	9th place	[27]
	Reinforced	Champions	[28]

PNVF Champions League:

Season	Title	Source
2021	3rd place	[29]
2024	Champions	[30]

AVC Women's Volleyball Champions League:

Season	Title	Source
2025	6th place	[6]

Individual

Season	Conference	Award	Name	Ref.
2018	Open	Best Libero	Cienne Marie Arielle Cruz	[31]
2019	Reinforced	2nd Best Middle Blocker	Cherry Rose Nunag	[32]
		Best Foreign Guest Player	Wilma Salas
		Most Valuable Player (Finals)	Janisa Johnson
	Open	1st Best Outside Spiker	Jovielyn Grace Prado	[33]
		2nd Best Middle Blocker	Jeanette Panaga
2021	Open	2nd Best Outside Spiker	Myla Pablo	[34]
		1st Best Middle Blocker	Ria Meneses
		Best Libero	Kath Arado
2021	PNVF Champions League for Women	1st Best Outside Spiker	Frances Molina	[35]
2022	Open	2nd Best Outside Spiker	Grethcel Soltones	[36]
	Reinforced	2nd Best Outside Spiker	Myla Pablo	[37]
		1st Best Middle Blocker	Mar-Jana Phillips
		Best Foreign Guest Player	Lindsey Vander Weide
		Most Valuable Player (Finals)
2023	1st All-Filipino	1st Best Middle Blocker	Mary Remy Joy Palma	[38]
		2nd Best Middle Blocker	Mar-Jana Phillips
2024	PNVF Champions League for Women
		Most Valuable Player	Brooke Van Sickle	[39]
		1st Best Outside Spiker
		2nd Best Outside Spiker	Jonah Sabete
		2nd Best Middle Blocker	Mary Remy Joy Palma
2024	All-Filipino
		Most Valuable Player (Conference)	Brooke Van Sickle	[40]
		Best Opposite Spiker	Aiza Maizo-Pontillas
	Reinforced	1st Best Outside Spiker	Brooke Van Sickle	[41]
2024–25	All-Filipino
		Most Valuable Player (Conference)	Brooke Van Sickle	[42] [43]
		Most Valuable Player (Finals)	Mar-Jana Phillips
	PVL on Tour
		2nd Best Outside Spiker	Myla Pablo	[44]
	Reinforced	Most Valuable Player (Conference)	Brooke Van Sickle	[45] [46]
		1st Best Outside Spiker
		Most Valuable Player (Finals)	Mar-Jana Phillips

Team captains

• Stephanie Mercado (2018)
• Janisa Johnson (2019)
• Chie Saet (2019–2023)
• Remy Palma (2024–2025)

Imports

Season	Name	Country
2018	Kadi Kullerkann [a]	Estonia
	Anastasia Trach	Ukraine
	Olena Lymareva-Flink [a]
2019	Wilma Salas	Cuba
	Janisa Johnson	United States
2022	Lindsey Vander Weide
2024	Wilma Salas [47]	Cuba
2025 AVC CL	Gia Day [48]	United States
2025	Lindsey Vander Weide [49] [50]

Notes

1. Olena Lymareva-Flink replaced Kadi Kullerkann in the latter stage of the preliminary round. ^[51]

Coaches

• Jerry Yee (2018, 2022)
• Arnold Laniog (2019–2021)
• Rald Ricafort (2022)
• Oliver Almadro (2023 1st All-Filipino–Invitational) – elevated as the team's head of volleyball operations ^[52]
• Timmy Santo Tomas – (2023 2nd All-Filipino) ^[52]
• Koji Tsuzurabara (2024–2025) ^{[53] [54]}
• Brian Esquibel (interim; 2025)
• Gary Van Sickle (2025) ^[55]

Former players

Local players Aiza Maizo-Pontillas (2022-2025) Antonnette Adolfo Baby Love Barbon Brooke Van Sickle Chie Saet (2018-2025) Cienne Cruz Cherry Nunag (2019) Djanel Welch Cheng Donnalyn Paralejas Dzi Gervacio Frances Molina (2021) Grethcel Soltones (2021-2023) Heather Guino-o Jeanette Panaga (2019) Jeushl Wensh Tiu Jellie Tempiatura Jonah Sabete (2022-2025) Jovelyn Grace Prado Julyana Tolentino Kath Arado (2021) Kecelyn Galdones Lourdes Clemente-De Guzman Mar Jana Phillips (2022-2025) Mary Anne Mendrez Mary Joy Dacoron Michelle Morente Myla Pablo (2021-2022, 2024-2025) Nicole Anne Tiamzon (2022-2025) Rachel Anne Austero Ranya Musa Remy Palma (2021-2025) Ria Meneses (2021) Rica Jane Enclona Seth Rodriguez Stephanie Mercado-De Koenigswarter

Foreign players  Cuba Wilma Salas  Estonia Kadi Kullerkann  Ukraine Olena Lymareva-Flink Anastasiya Trach  United States Janisa Johnson Lindsay Vander Weide Giovanna Day - AVC Women’s Champions League 2025

References

1. "Petro Gazz goes full throttle in PVL preps". Fastbreak. March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
2. Escarlote, Mark (March 16, 2018). "Petro Gazz Angels ready to spread wings in PVL". ABS-CBN Sports . Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
3. Garcia, John Mark (April 18, 2025). "How Petro Gazz won the PVL All-Filipino title once and for all". Sports Interactive Network Philippines . Retrieved April 19, 2025.
4. Agcaoili, Lance (March 1, 2025). "Creamline, Petro Gazz to compete for PH in AVC Champions League". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
5. Dannug, Jonash (April 12, 2025). "Heaven Sent: Petro Gazz dethrones Creamline to win first PVL All-Filipino title". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
6. "Pressure breaks Petro Gazz as Baic Motor rallies to clinch last semis berth". Premier Volleyball League. April 25, 2025. Archived from the original on April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
7. "How one joke led to Van Sickle family reunion at Petro Gazz". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. October 3, 2025. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
8. Caacbay, Kennedy (December 1, 2025). "Van Sickle family powers Petro Gazz to 4th overall PVL title". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
9. Agcaoili, Lance (January 7, 2026). "PVL rules out Petro Gazz-Nxled merger, awaits Angels' decision". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved January 7, 2026.
10. Garcia, John Mark (January 7, 2026). "PVL shuts down proposed Nxled-Petro Gazz roster merger". Sports Interactive Network Philippines . Retrieved January 7, 2026.
11. "Petro Gazz takes leave of absence from PVL". Premier Volleyball League . Retrieved January 10, 2026.
12. Garcia, John Mark (January 25, 2026). "Petro Gazz on future PVL return: 'There's a very big chance'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
13. Bautista, Ohmer (June 27, 2018). "BanKo Perlas advances to semis, eliminates Petro Gazz". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
14. Escarlote, Mark (December 8, 2018). "PVL: Perlas Spikers seal third place finish". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
15. Bautista, Ohmer (July 14, 2019). "Petro Gazz dethrones Creamline, rules PVL Reinforced Conference". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
16. Escarlote, Mark (November 9, 2019). "PVL: Cool Smashers complete 20-game sweep, extend Open Conference reign". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
17. Naredo, Camille (August 12, 2021). "Petro Gazz sweeps Choco Mucho for PVL bronze". ABS-CBN News. Philippines. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
18. Agcaoili, Lance (April 8, 2022). "PVL: Alyssa Valdez wins Finals MVP award after Creamline title run". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
19. "Petro Gazz eliminates Choco Mucho, gifts Army PVL semis spot". Spin.ph . July 30, 2022. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
20. Agcaoili, Lance (December 6, 2022). "PVL: Petro Gazz sweeps Cignal to win Reinforced crown anew". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
21. "Creamline completes comeback, defends PVL All-Filipino Conference title". Rappler. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
22. "Petro Gazz settles for 9th, stops Akari in 5". Premier Volleyball League. July 20, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
23. Morales, Luisa (December 5, 2023). "PLDT outlasts Petro Gazz in five sets, ends PVL campaign on a high". Spin.ph . Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
24. Bautista, Ohmer (May 12, 2024). "PVL: Eya Laure, Chery Tiggo pull off dramatic reversal over Petro Gazz to keep bronze hopes alive". One Sports . Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
25. "Creamline clips Petro Gazz in 3, seals semis duel vs Cignal". Premier Volleyball League. August 27, 2024. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
26. "From the brink to the throne: Petro Gazz stuns Creamline in epic 4-set triumph". Premier Volleyball League. April 12, 2025. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
27. "Akari catches fire, books quarters spot vs Cignal" . Retrieved August 5, 2025.
28. "Petro Gazz reignites to take third PVL Reinforced title" . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
29. Micaller, Bea (November 25, 2021). "Petro Gazz survives gallant Perlas to finish third in PNVF Champions League". GMA News. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
30. Garcia, John Mark (February 10, 2024). "Petro Gazz jams Cignal to clinch PNVF Champions League title". Spin.ph . Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
31. Escarlote, Mark (December 8, 2018). "PVL: Valdez earns Open Conference MVP honors". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
32. Escarlote, Mark (July 13, 2019). "PVL: Valdez claims third MVP award". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
33. Escarlote, Mark (November 9, 2019). "PVL: Galanza takes home well-deserved MVP award". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
34. Yumol, David Tristan (August 13, 2021). "Jaja Santiago takes home Conference MVP and Finals MVP awards". CNN Philippines . Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
35. Danug, Jonash (November 25, 2021). "KKD hailed as PNVFCL MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
36. Agcaoili, Lance (April 8, 2022). "Creamline's Tots Carlos wins PVL Open Conference MVP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
37. Dannug, Jonash (December 6, 2022). "Lindsey Vander Weide crowned PVL Reinforced Finals MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
38. Agcaoili, Lance (March 30, 2023). "Creamline's Tots Carlos wins third PVL MVP award". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
39. Dannug, Jonash (February 10, 2024). "Brooke Van Sickle makes grand introduction, takes PNVF MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
40. Isaga, JR (May 12, 2024). "Brooke's best: Petro Gazz's Van Sickle bags MVP in debut PVL stint". Rappler . Retrieved May 12, 2024.
41. Demigillo, Kiko (September 4, 2024). "'MVPons' finally real as Bernadeth Pons takes home PVL Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors". One Sports . Retrieved September 4, 2024.
42. "Brooke Van Sickle shines bright with back-to-back MVP honors". Premier Volleyball League. April 12, 2025. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
43. Demigillo, Kiko (April 12, 2025). "MJ Phillips cops PVL Finals MVP award after leading Petro Gazz to first All-Filipino title". One Sports . Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
44. "Erika Santos shines as PVL on Tour MVP" . Retrieved August 17, 2025.
45. "Brooke Van Sickle joins elite group with third MVP" . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
46. Agcaoili, Lance (November 30, 2025). "PVL: MJ Phillips delivers for Petro Gazz to nab Finals MVP". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
47. Garcia, John Mark (July 10, 2024). "Wilma Salas returns to Petro Gazz for PVL Reinforced Conference". Spin.ph . Retrieved July 10, 2024.
48. "Petro Gazz taps Gia Day as import for AVC Champions League". Premier Volleyball League. April 17, 2025. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
49. "Lindsey Vander Weide makes return to Petro Gazz" . Retrieved September 29, 2025.
50. Demigillo, Kiko (September 29, 2025). "Lindsey Vander Weide makes PVL return with Petro Gazz for Reinforced Conference". onesports.ph. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
52. "Petro Gazz names former deputy Timmy Sto. Tomas as head coach". GMA Integrated News. August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
53. "PVL: Petro Gazz welcoms Koji Tsuzurabara as new head coach". One Sports . January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
54. "Koji Tsuzurabara bids farewell to Petro Gazz, returns to Japan" . Retrieved July 25, 2025.
55. "Petro Gazz taps Van Sickle parents as new coaching tandem" . Retrieved September 30, 2025.