Lindsey Vander Weide refused to stay in the shadows. Just days after being muted in a key loss, the explosive import stepped up when it mattered most, leading Petro Gazz to a gutsy 25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21 victory over Chery Tiggo in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday, October 18, at the Capital Arena.

With their Top 3 hopes in Pool B hanging in the balance, the Angels leaned on Vander Weide’s firepower and Brooke Van Sickle’s all-around brilliance to survive a late rally and regain their winning form. Both stars erupted for 25 points, but it was Vander Weide’s decisive burst in the fourth set that turned a one-point deficit into a momentum-swinging finish before a roaring sea of red and white.

Vander Weide flips the script in crunch time

Vander Weide was unstoppable in the clutch. After enduring a Set 3 lull, she sparked the closing 5-0 surge with a booming spike that shattered a tense exchange, followed it with a timely block on Cess Robles, then watched as the Crossovers committed a costly net violation. She sealed the deal with back-to-back kills — a sharp crosscourt hit to Zone 5 and a punishing hammer off an overpass — to cap the dramatic comeback.

Her performance electrified the packed crowd and restored the Angels’ identity as a tough, composed squad under pressure. “It was phenomenal,” said Van Sickle. “Chery Tiggo did a fantastic job. They really pushed us to our physical and mental limits. But in the end, we stuck together.”

Despite a shaky second set and late-fourth pressure, Petro Gazz refused to blink. Their chemistry and poise, boosted by the crowd’s unwavering support, proved decisive as they improved to 2-1 — staying close behind pool leaders ZUS Coffee and Akari.

Chery Tiggo, meanwhile, slipped to 0-3, still chasing its first win of the season despite the strong showing of Yuni Batista (21 points) and Cess Robles (14).

You May Also Like: PLDT stays perfect with dominant sweep of Choco Mucho in PVL Reinforced Conference

Angels rediscover grit in pivotal third set

The turning point came late in the third. After blowing a 16-7 lead, Petro Gazz watched Chery Tiggo rally to tie the score at 21, 22, and 23 behind Batista and libero Karen Verdeflor’s stellar defense. But Van Sickle delivered under pressure, rotating to the left wing to nail a sharp crosscourt and a savvy off-speed shot that froze the blockers, sealing a momentum-saving set for the Angels.

Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips chipped in 10 points each, while Ranya Musa added eight. Rookie setter Jules Tolentino impressed again with 21 excellent sets, while veteran Djanel Cheng stabilized the offense at key stretches. Defensively, Van Sickle anchored with 20 digs and 15 receptions, Pablo added 10 digs, and Vander Weide contributed 11 receptions.

For Chery Tiggo, Batista led the charge, Robles tallied nine receptions, and Ara Galang added nine points in a valiant effort that fell just short.

Petro Gazz’s gritty stand not only solidified their Top 3 chase but also sent a clear message: the Angels are back to playing with fire, belief, and clutch composure.