AVC preview: Meet the imports boosting PVL teams’ campaigns

SCHEDULE: Petro Gazz, Creamline, PLDT at 2025 AVC Champions League

MANILA, Philippines — In their bid to represent the host country with pride, PVL teams Petro Gazz, Creamline, and PLDT tapped world-class imports for the 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League from April 20 to April 27 at Philsports Arena.

Amid the grueling 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the three Philippine clubs made sure to sign the best foreign players possible to reinforce their respective rosters in the club meet.

Creamline maximized the rule of three imports, signing Kazakh middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets, and Russian wing spiker Anastasiya Kudryashova to reinforce returning American Cool Smasher Erica Staunton.

Petro Gazz, which recently ended Creamline’s dynasty in the PVL for its maiden All-Filipino crown, brought in American spiker Gia Day, who played in different top brass leagues overseas.

PLDT, on the other hand, signed a familiar PVL import in Wilma Salas, a former reinforcement of Petro Gazz, who is bringing over her overseas experience, and, more importantly, familiarity with Philippine volleyball.

A new ‘Day’ for Petro Gazz

Two-time PVL MVP Petro Gazz Angels’ star Brooke Van Sickle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Fresh from their epic PVL championship run, Petro Gazz Angels looks to carry their momentum onto the international stage, with two-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle leading the charge.

To fortify the Angels’ talent-rich wing spiker rotation, they tapped the 6-foot-2 outside spiker Gia Day, a pro player from the United States who played in Athletes Unlimited and League One Volleyball (LOVB).

Petro Gazz is only entitled to one import with Filipino-Americans Van Sickle and Finals MVP MJ Phillips still listed with USA Volleyball, but the newly crowned All-Filipino queens made sure to tap the best available in the former Baylor Bear, who saw action in France, Puerto Rico, Italy, Indonesia, and South Korea.

The 26-year-old Day was named Best Outside Hitter in the Korean Volleyball League with the Daejeon JungKwanJang Red Sparks in the 2023-24 season.

Gia Day is the Petro Gazz Angels’ import for the AVC Champions League. –PETRO GAZZ PHOTO

With Day joining Van Sickle, Phillips, Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, and Remy Palma, Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara is looking forward to competing in Pool B, where they will take on Kaohsiung Taipower of Taiwan on Monday and Hip Hing of Hong Kong.

Tsuzurabara battles some of his former players at Taipower, having coached the Chinese Taipei National Team from 2019 to 2022.

“My team is in the big group — Hong Kong team and Chinese Taipei. [Some] Taipower players were my players before. I’m very happy [with this opportunity],” said the Petro Gazz coach.

Van Sickle, a proud Filipino, is eager to deliver in her first time representing the country in the club championship, where she also roots for Creamline and PLDT.

“I’m super stoked. This is my first time with international play. I’m just excited to see good volleyball and just be able to see how other countries play the sport and to learn from them and grow and just to see the intensity,” she said. “I wish the best for PLDT and Creamline also because at the end of the day, we’re representing the Philippines. So, I want Philippine teams to win. I’m going to be there cheering. I want one of us to win. So, I’m very excited to watch.”

Creamline redemption tour

Creamline Cool Smashers after losing to Petro Gazz Angels in Game 3 of the PVL All-Filipino Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Just a week removed from their failed five-peat bid in the All-Filipino Conference, Creamline Cool Smashers are seeking redemption on the international stage.

Slated in a challenging Pool A against nine-time Kazakhstan Women’s Volleyball League champion Zhetysu VC and Jordan’s Al Naser, the Cool Smashers turn to their familiarity not just in the PVL but also on multiple occasions representing the country in the past years.

Creamline brought back Reinforced and Invitational Conferences import Staunton, who led it to a historic Grand Slam last year.

The Rebisco-owned club also bolstered its roster by bringing in 6-foot Kazakh middle blocker Kolomoyets, a member of VC Kuanysh who has faced group competitor Zhetysu VC in several matches, to strengthen the frontline with newly crowned Best Middle Blocker Bea De Leon and Pangs Panaga.

Creamline Cool Smashers is bringing back Erica Staunton for the AVC Champions League.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The 6-foot-6 Russian spiker Kudryashova, a teammate of Kolomoyets in Kazakhstan, is also bringing her familiarity against Zhetysu, aside from the added firepower in teaming up with Staunton and MVPs Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza.

“We need to move on quickly, especially since we have the AVC tournament coming up,” said seven-time PVL champion coach Sherwin Meneses.

“They’re naturally competitive, so even if they’re still thinking about the loss, I believe they will bounce back. Right now, everyone’s back home, resting and recharging. But I think the team will recover fast. Creamline has always been a competitive team.”

Creamline also signed veteran playmaker Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete to team up with three-time PVL Best Setter Kyle Negrito.

The Cool Smashers open their AVC campaign against Al Naser on Easter Sunday at 4:00 p.m., before wrapping up their pool play with a clash against Zhetysu VC on Monday at 7:00 p.m.

PLDT’s unfinished business

Former Petro Gazz import Wilma Salas will reinforce PLDT High Speed Hitters in the AVC Champions League .–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

PLDT and PVL resident import Wilma Salas have one thing in common: they are both determined to bounce back from their previous heartbreaks.

Savi Davison and the High Speed Hitters fell short of reaching the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals after losing a pair of five-set thrillers to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in their quarterfinals series.

Salas, a former Petro Gazz import, had the same experience in her homecoming, suffering a quarterfinals exit in last year’s Reinforced Conference, ending its ‘three-peat’ dream.

The 2019 PVL Best Foreign Guest Player is bringing her experience and familiarity with Philippine volleyball despite playing for a new team and facing international clubs.

PLDT High Speed Hitters in the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals against Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Filipino-Canadian hitter Davison is determined to use her team’s previous heartbreak to compete in the AVC with the 6-foot-2 Cuban on her side, teaming up with Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata, Fiola Ceballos, Erika Santos, Kianna Dy, and setters Angge Alcantara and Kim Fajardo, as well as former national team libero Kath Arado.

“We’ve learned from the tough losses, and now we get to turn that into something better,” said the All-Filipino Conference Best Outside Hitter. “This is a big opportunity for us to showcase what we can do on a different stage.”

“We were that close. We know we can compete. Now it’s about executing, and this time, not letting up,” she added.

PLDT is also in a stacked group in Pool D, facing the No. 13 club team in the world, Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin VC of Thailand on Sunday, and World No. 55 Queensland Pirates of Australia on Tuesday.

Also competing at the historic Philsports Arena are Baic Motor Volleyball Club of China, VTV Binh Dien Long An of Vietnam, and Iran Volleyball Club in Pool C.

The top two teams of each group will advance to the knockout quarterfinals on April 24 and 25. The Final Four is set on April 26 to determine the finalists in the winner-take-all finale on April 27.