Taipower Overpowers Petro Gazz to Top AVC Pool B

Kaohsiung Taipower pulled away in a tense fourth set to crush Petro Gazz’s comeback hopes and secured a 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20 win Monday at the Philsports Arena to top Pool B in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League.

The Taiwanese squad advanced to the quarterfinals with the victory, marking back-to-back wins after a dominant sweep of Hong Kong’s Hip Hing on Sunday.

Nine-time champions in Taiwan’s Top Volleyball League, Taipower leaned on the consistent firepower of 21-year-old outside hitter Hsu Wan-Yun and 23-year-old wing spiker Tsai Yu-Chun to dominate the match.

The Taiwanese controlled the first two sets with clinical precision, dismantling the Angels’ rhythm early.

Petro Gazz, fresh off its Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino title, managed to rally in Set 3, but Taipower regained control in the fourth with a late run that closed the match in one hour and 44 minutes.

The win booked Taipower a quarterfinal showdown against the No. 2 team from Pool C.

Petro Gazz must now defeat Hip Hing on Tuesday to claim the other quarterfinal slot from the group.

The Angels, still adjusting to new import Gia Day, struggled to regain their championship form.

Day showed early flashes of brilliance and contributed to the Set 3 win, but her momentum faded as Taipower’s pressure intensified.

Fellow import Brooke Van Sickle tried to mount a comeback, but her efforts were not enough to push Petro Gazz past the disciplined Taiwanese side.

Petro Gazz saved two match points late in the fourth set, with a Van Sickle crosscourt hammer and a well-placed serve from Remy Palma.

However, Palma’s next serve went long, sealing the win for Taipower.

The Taiwanese sealed the fourth set with a powerful 11-3 run, capped by a Peng Yu-Rou quick hit, a running attack from middle blocker Hu Xiao-Pei, and an error by Day that widened the gap to 19-11.

Three consecutive points from MJ Phillips pulled the Angels within 18-22, but a Day service error, an ace by Peng, and another miscue from Palma ended their run.

“We need more communication and teamwork heading into the quarterfinals,” said Taipower head coach Chang Li-Yun.

“Our serve also needs to be stronger.”

Chang, who once played under Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara for the Chinese Taipei national team, commended her players’ composure in clutch moments.

Hsu led all scorers with 18 points on 16 attacks, along with 14 excellent digs and three receptions.

Peng and Tsai added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Captain Huang Ching-Hsuan finished with nine points, while Hu and Lin Cai-Zhen chipped in eight each.

If Petro Gazz advances, it will face Pool C top seed Beijing Baic Motor, which swept a group that included Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An and Iran’s Saipa Tehran.

Day tallied 18 points on 16 attacks with eight excellent digs in her Philippine debut.

Van Sickle added 13 points on 11 attacks and eight excellent digs.

Phillips finished with nine points on six attacks and three blocks, while Aiza Maizo-Pontillas contributed eight points on seven attacks and six digs.