3 PVL teams stay alive in Asian volleyball club tourney

MANILA, Philippines – All three Filipino teams qualified to the quarterfinals of the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League as Petro Gazz and PLDT did just enough on the final day of pool play.

The Angels and the High Speed Hitters joined the Creamline Cool Smashers as the three Premier Volleyball League (PVL) teams punched their ticket to the playoff round after three days of pool play.

Petro Gazz avoided elimination after thumping Hong Kong’s Hip Hing women’s team in straight sets, 25-8, 25-12, 25-12, on Tuesday, April 22, at the PhilSports Arena.

Reinforcement Gia Day led all scorers after dropping 18 attack points, while Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips added 9 points apiece.

“All Filipino volleyball supporters are happy for sure, since we all made it to the next round,” said Petro team captain Remy Palma.

“I feel so proud that all representatives made it, a big boost for Philippine volleyball. Let’s see what will happen,” she added.

As they end Pool B play with a 1-1 slate the Angels will face off against China’s BAIC Motor Volleyball Club of Pool C in the knockout crossover quarterfinals on Thursday, April 24.

Sze Man Kwan had 4 points as the Hong Kong team ended its stint in the weeklong tournament with a 0-2 record.

Earlier, The PLDT High Speed Hitters pushed Thai powerhouse Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC to the limit, but ultimately fell short, 26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 15-9.

Finishing Pool D at 1-1, the High Speed Hitters are set to face Pool A top seed Zhetysu VC of Kazakhstan in the crossover knockout quarterfinal, also on Thursday, at 4 pm.

“I’m happy with the performance of the team, it’s finally paying off,” said PLDT team captain Kath Arado.

“I’m really just enjoying the game since it is a rare opportunity to play with players of this caliber,” she added.

Down two sets to none, PLDT took the next two sets, and was tied at 8-all in the race to 15 decider.

However, Kianna Dy committed a center line fault, and momentum swung their foes’ way, ending the contest with a 7-1 finishing kick. The Thais topped the pool at 2-0.

Savi Davison unleashed 28 points, while import Wilma Salas added 22 markers for PLDT.

Anyse Marlee topscored for Nakhon Ratchasima with 20, while Eva Chantava chipped in 17.

Nakhon Ratchasima, the bronze medalist of the Thailand League, will face the Creamline Cool Smashers, the second seed of Pool A, on Friday, April 25, at 7 pm.

“There is nothing more tough than facing a high-level opponent, a champion team from Thailand,” PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort said.

“We were proud of how our team performed.”

Meanwhile, Zhetysu VC swept Al Naser Club of Jordan in straight sets, 25-11, 25-15, 25-10, to complete pool play on a perfect note.

In the opening match of the day, VTV Binh Dien Long An of Vietnam defeated Saipa Tehran of Iran, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-15.

The Vietnamese will face Chinese Taipei’s Taipower in the quarterfinals on Friday at 4 p.m. – Rappler.com