Petro Gazz came heartbreakingly close to completing a historic semifinal run in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League, only to falter in crunch time against a young but poised Beijing Baic Motor squad.

Despite holding a 2-1 set lead, the Angels couldn’t sustain their momentum and succumbed to a pressure-packed 29-31, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 12-15 loss in a gripping quarterfinal clash Friday night, April 25, at the Philsports Arena.

Jin Ye turned in a towering performance, dropping a match-high 37 points along with eight digs and five receptions to power Baic Motor past Petro Gazz in a thrilling five-set encounter. Her explosive showing outshone even the valiant effort of Petro Gazz’s American import Gia Day, who tallied 35 points and 15 digs in their highly anticipated head-to-head duel.

“Even though we’re a young team, we don’t let that define us,” said Jin, who delivered 33 attack points and four blocks. “We focus on fighting for every point. Facing a strong and experienced team like Petro Gazz was a great opportunity for us to learn and grow.”

While Jin shone with her game-long brilliance, it was Lu Yufei who stole the spotlight in the decisive fifth set, delivering five crucial points, including the final kill that shattered the Angels’ hopes after a grueling two-hour and 34-minute battle.

Lu’s off-the-block spike brought Baic Motor to match point at 14-9. Although Petro Gazz mounted a late rally through MJ Phillips’ quick attack and kill block, followed by a Lu error to make it 12-14, Lu quickly responded after a timeout with a precise down-the-line spike to seal the victory and secure Baic Motor’s semifinal slot against VTV Binh Dien Long An.

Lu added 19 points while Shan Lanfeng and Shen Hongyi contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Chinese club also dominated at the net with an 18-block total.

Reigning PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle backed Day with 17 points on 12 attacks, three aces, and two blocks along with 22 digs. Jonah Sabete had 15 points while Phillips finished with 11.

Baic Motor displayed resilience and bench depth, responding calmly to the Angels’ aggressive middle sets and capitalizing on crucial Petro Gazz errors in the fifth. Coach Kuang Qi rotated his players effectively, especially after a shaky third set, keeping his squad fresh and focused in the decider.

Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara stuck with his top gun Day in the final set, but Baic Motor’s block scheme read her patterns, neutralizing the import late in the match. A pivotal moment came at 4-all when Day’s attack error tipped the momentum toward Baic, followed by two more breakdowns that put the Chinese side ahead 10-5—a lead they never relinquished.

Earlier, Petro Gazz had controlled the third set and looked poised to close out the match, but Baic Motor’s response in the fourth turned the tide. Their 17-12 lead eventually stretched into a set win, shifting the pressure back to the Angels heading into the final frame.

Ultimately, Petro Gazz’s valiant campaign in the AVC came to a close, but not without proving they could compete at a high international level.