By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Petro Gazz Angels displayed their championship form to defeat Hip Hing of Hong Kong, 25-8, 25-12, 25-12, in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday night, April 22.
Negrense Jonah Sabete provided an instant impact in limited minutes with three points, while American import Gia Milana Day led the way for the Angels with 18 points, all coming from attacks.
With the victory, the Angels concluded Pool B in second place with a 1-1 win-loss slate.
The newly-crowned PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference champions Angels showed no mercy against Hip Hing by jumping to quick double-digit leads in each of the three sets en route to a convincing victory.
“This was a great game to find our rhythm as a team,” Day said in a post-game interview.
“We just decided to enjoy every point and not dwell on pressure,” she added.
Sze-Man Kwan and Tsz-Ching Lam ended up with three markers apiece for Hip Hing, which dropped to a 0-2 record.
The Petro Gazz Angels will face China’s Beijing Baic Motor in the knockout quarterfinals round on Thursday evening, April 24.
Meanwhile, the PLDT High Speed Hitters fell short of their comeback bid against the Nakhon Ratchasima QminC Cat Devil, 26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 15-9.
After the Cat Devil dominated the first two sets, the High Speed Hitters showcased their strength in the third and fourth sets as they dragged their Thai opponents to a fifth and deciding set.
The final set was closely contested, with both teams tied at 8-8 before the Cat Devil unloaded a 7-1 finishing attack to secure the top seed in Pool D with a 2-0 win-loss slate.
Anyse Marlee Smith led the Cat Devil’s offense with 16 points, including 13 attacks, two blocks and one service ace.
Evangelia Chantava contributed 11 points, with nine attacks.
Savannah Davison shone for the High Speed Hitters, scoring 21 points from 18 attacks, two blocks and one service ace.
Wilma Salas added 16 points.
They ended in second place in the pool with a 1-1 mark./ASC, WDJ