Brooke Van Sickle delivered a career-high outburst to push Petro Gazz closer to a podium finish in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Petro Gazz rode on the offensive brilliance of Brooke Van Sickle once more to thwart the late challenge of Chery Tiggo, 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 27-29, 15-12, in Game One of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference battle for third at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, May 9.
Van Sickle poured a career-high 36 points built on 31 attacks, four blocks and an ace, to go along with 10 receptions for the Angels, who moved a win away from clinching their second bronze medal in league history.
Holding a 2-1 set edge heading to the fourth frame, Petro Gazz attempted to finish off the match, but got pushed to the limit by Chery Tiggo before emerging triumphant.
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Brooke Van Sickle and Djanel Cheng share high-fives during Petro Gazz's bronze medal match against Chery Tiggo in the PVL. | Photo (c) RM Chua
A stubborn Crossovers side dragged the Angels to a 24-all deadlock in the fourth. A trade of blows ensued between the one-two scoring punch of Van Sickle and Jonah Sabete and Cherry Tiggo's Eya Laure from there, with both teams refusing to give way as they knotted the count anew at 27-all.
Rallying their cause, the Crossovers then turned to Ara Galang, who nailed an off-the-block hit and roofed Sabete in succession to force a decider.
Come the final set, Petro Gazz seized a 10-6 lead but Chery Tiggo mounted a comeback to tie things up at 12. But Van Sickle restored order with a crosscourt hammer before MJ Phillips pounced on a freebie to push the Angels at match point.
KC Galdones then scored a clutch ace to seal the deal.
[RELATED STORY: PVL: Brooke Van Sickle deflects credit to Petro Gazz teammates after career-high performance in win over Chery Tiggo]
Sabete supplemented a double-double of 21 points and 11 digs while Phillips flexed her muscle at the net with five blocks on her way to 15 markers.
Djanel Cheng made her presence felt as well with 22 excellent sets she spiked with eight points, half of which coming from aces.
The Angels had an error-plagued outing, committing 30 miscues compared to the Crossovers' 19. However, they compensated with a stronger offensive game, leading 69-57 in attack points. The Angels also outblocked the Crossovers, 16-6, while also dominating the service aces department, 10-3.
Eya, the younger of the Laure siblings, put up a double-double of 23 points and 11 receptions that went for naught, while Galang and Mylene Paat netted 11 and nine markers, respectively.
Petro Gazz looks to finish off the series and claim the bronze while Chery Tiggo seeks to bounce back and keep its podium hopes alive in Game Two on Sunday, May 12, at the same venue.