DASMARINAS, Cavite – Petro Gazz ignited its bid for a third Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference title on a familiar and promising note, sweeping Galeries Tower in dominant fashion, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, at the Dasmariñas Arena here on Thursday.

It was a resounding performance that not only marked the official start of the import-laced conference but also hinted at a recurring pattern that could define the Angels’ legacy – a championship every three years.

Brooke Van Sickle led the charge with 14 points and six excellent digs, while American import Lindsey Vander Weide fired 13 markers, picking up where she left off in 2022, when she powered Petro Gazz to its second Reinforced title and earned both Best Import and Finals MVP honors. Her presence once again signals the team’s intent to reclaim PVL supremacy.

“I just tried to enjoy every point. I’m just really happy with this opportunity – being able to play and be coached by my parents again,” said Van Sickle when asked on the personal experience of playing under her parents’ (Gary and Lisa) coaching. “So I’m grateful and very happy.”

Looking back, the Angels’ first championship came in 2019, when the dynamic duo of Janisa Johnson and Wilma Salas dethroned the Creamline Cool Smashers in a breakthrough campaign that announced Petro Gazz as a formidable force. Fast forward three years to 2022, and it was Vander Weide who took the reins, guiding a retooled roster to another title run.

Now, in 2025, the question lingers: Can Petro Gazz complete the hat trick of titles earned in three-year intervals?

“I think we have a lot of depth this year. We have solid players coming in and anybody can step up on the court and make a difference. So that makes me really comfortable playing with them,” said Vander Weide, who added eight receptions, in assessing the Angels’ depth and confidence in their roster.

While one victory doesn’t define a championship season, the Angels’ emphatic start certainly bodes well for their campaign. The road ahead remains treacherous, with a deep and talented field of 12 teams vying for the crown. Yet, if history is any indication, Petro Gazz thrives in these cycles – peaking at just the right time to etch its name into the record books.

Up next is a highly anticipated showdown against old rivals Creamline on Oct. 14 at the Araneta Coliseum – a match that could serve as an early litmus test for the Angels’ title ambitions and a preview of another potential finals clash.

“I think we came out a little bit slow but overall it’s a good team effort,” said head coach Gary Van Sickle on the team’s performance and areas for improvement. “But there are routines that we can fix in practice. But it’s a good win, and any win is a good win in the PVL.”

After sizing up the Highrisers in the opening set and finding their rhythm in the second, the Angels shifted into high gear in the third, racing to an 18-12 lead behind a unit that showed no signs of slowing down – despite the constant rotations under their new coach.

Leading the early surge was playmaker Djanel Cheng, who anchored the offense with 14 excellent sets and added four points of her own, all coming from smart, well-timed 1-2 plays.

“Our focus was really on winning our first game so we could establish a foundation and see what direction to take for our upcoming matches,” said Cheng, reflecting on the team’s approach this conference after a disappointing ninth-place finish in the PVL On Tour and missing the Invitational.

Cheng’s ability to read the defense and distribute the ball with unpredictability proved pivotal. She masterfully utilized every available option on the floor, making Petro Gazz’s offense multi-dimensional and increasingly difficult to contain. Her near-flawless ball distribution allowed the Angels to outgun the Highrisers in attacks, 46-32, that all but keyed their one-sided win.

The one-hour, 19-minute match also marked the official start of the year-end tournament, following the decision to replay Tuesday’s games due to the absence of imports amid the International Transfer Certificates (ITC) impasse.

Middle MJ Phillips added 12 points while Jonah Sabete finished with eight makers and Myla Pablo and Ranya Musa matched four-point outputs for the Angels.

The Highrisers were thoroughly outclassed, with no player managing to reach double-digit scoring. Import Jelena Cvijovic and Dodee Batindaan led the team with nine points apiece, while Jen Asis and Ysa Jimenez chipped in seven and six points, respectively.