Petro Gazz Edges Akari in Heart-Stopping 5th Set to Secure Finals Spot

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by Misha Cruz

The Petro Gazz Angels celebrate their win over the Akari Chargers
The Petro Gazz Angels celebrate their win over the Akari Chargers. Photo: PVL Images.

If there was ever a match that perfectly captured why Filipino volleyball fans live for these moments, Petro Gazz and Akari just delivered it in full HD chaos.

The Angels clawed their way to a dramatic 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13 victory at the Araneta Coliseum; a five-set marathon that swung from cruise control to emotional demolition before finally ending in a clutch, breath-stealing finish. 

With the win, Petro Gazz marches back into the PVL Reinforced Conference finals and has a chance to extend its uncanny three-year title pattern after championships in 2019 and 2022.

Petro Gazz dominated early, but Akari flipped the script hard in Sets 3 and 4. Annie Mitchem powered the Chargers’ comeback with a barrage of middle hits, while Ced Domingo and Grethcel Soltones kept the momentum rolling. Suddenly, the Angels’ two-set cushion evaporated, and we were all strapped into a wild decider.

And wow, Set 5 was pure volleyball chaos.

Petro Gazz import Lindsey Vander Weide spikes the ball against Akari defenders
Petro Gazz import Lindsey Vander Weide spikes the ball against Akari defenders. Photo: PVL Images.

Every rally felt like it carried the weight of the season. Eleven ties. Five lead changes. Zero room to breathe. The crowd collectively forgot how to blink.

Petro Gazz briefly held an 11-9 lead after a centerline violation on Akari, but the Chargers erased it within seconds. Mitchem tied the score again with a cross-court bomb that sent the Big Dome buzzing. What followed felt like a fever dream, a sequence of clutch hits, ill-timed errors, and adrenaline-fueled swings from both sides.

Then came the moment that sealed it: Soltones, trying to force a longer rally, sent her attack just inches long. Akari challenged, hoping for a late block touch, and the arena went dead silent. But the review showed clean hands. No touch. Point Petro Gazz. Match Petro Gazz.

Brooke Van Sickle was unreal, finishing with a triple-double of 23 points, 13 digs, and 18 receptions, anchoring the Angels in every phase. Myla Pablo also delivered a huge 26-point performance while stepping up for Lindsey Vander Weide, who continued to battle through an earlier ankle issue.

Akari import Annie Mitchem
Akari import Annie Mitchem. Photo: PVL Images.

Akari, last year’s Reinforced Conference runners-up, showed heart, grit, and zero fear, with Mitchem dropping 28 markers in a standout effort.

Petro Gazz now awaits the winner of the PLDT–ZUS Coffee semifinal. One thing’s clear: whoever takes that slot is walking into a finals showdown against a team that just proved it refuses to break.