The Petro Gazz Angels are the new queens in the PVL after being crowned champions in the All-Filipino Conference.

In the PBA, the league added new members–led by “The Bull”–to their Greatest list to celebrate their golden year. Over at the NBA, the wild postseason race in the West is finally settled.

Meanwhile, Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala, whose campaign on clay gets underway, bares the challenges she faces when applying for visas to compete in international tournaments. Speaking of campaigns, Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura is having a UAAP women’s volleyball season like no other.

Here’s Inquirer Sports’ round-up of last week’s news from April 7 to 14:

Petro Gazz Angels celebrate their PVL All-Filipino Conference championship after dethroning Creamline Cool Smashers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

From challengers to champions.

The Petro Gazz Angels finally shed their tag as perennial contenders, forcing the Creamline Cool Smashers to relinquish their throne in a gripping 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19 triumph in Game 3 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals on Saturday night.

Jonah Sabete fired a stinging crosscourt hit at match point, ending years of frustration as the Angels finally quenched their thirst for  the trophy that eluded them many times over.

Nelson Asaytono, high-profile snubs finally make PBA Greatest list

PBA legend Nelson “The Bull” Asaytono, now part of the league’s greatest list, during the 50th anniversary gala night. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Of all the players added to the list of the Philippine Basketball Association’s greatest stars, no one’s wait was more puzzling than Nelson Asaytono.

The committee, tasked to add 10 more names to bring the number of members in the PBA Greatest list to 50 in line with the league’s golden anniversary, completed that list on Wednesday, with the man they called “The Bull” getting the overwhelming nod of the selectors, who announced the name in a televised event.

Snubbed during the first 25 inducted in 2000, Asaytono was also left off the 15-player list added for the league’s 40th anniversary in 2015.

Alex Eala (PHL) reacts after winning a point against Jessica Pegula (USA)(not pictured) in a women’s singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala admitted that holding a Philippine passport presents challenges when applying for visas to compete in international tournaments.

Eala, who has been based in Mallorca, Spain since joining the Rafa Nadal Academy, shared that securing travel documents for visa requirements, especially for last-minute tennis tournaments, is part of her struggles as a Filipino athlete. The Philippine passport ranks 75th in travel freedom as of January, according to the Henley Passport Index.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) moves the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during overtime of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Entering Sunday as teams played their 82nd games, the NBA Eastern Conference seedings already were determined. Out West, however, only the top three seeds — the Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14), Houston Rockets (52-30) and Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) — had locked in seeding.

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors couldn’t let the chaotic race for NBA Western Conference playoff seedings be unscrambled in regulation of their regular-season finale on Sunday.

They needed five more minutes, with the Clippers (50-32) winning 124-119 in overtime in San Francisco and securing the fifth seed and a playoff series against the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets (50-32) when the first round begins April 19. The Warriors (48-34) dropped to seventh place, arranging a date with the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday in San Francisco. The winner becomes the West’s No. 7 seed in the playoffs.

Adamson rookie Shaina Nitura during a game against FEU in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.–UAAP PHOTO

Adamson star Shaina Nitura was obviously still processing what she had just accomplished after the Lady Falcons’ win over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.

The record-breaking rookie was at it again on Saturday, reaching another milestone by scoring the most points in a single season in a 14-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22 victory.

Nitura bumped her season point total to 314, two more than the previous record once held by Alyssa Valdez back in Season 77 for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

LEAD-UP: GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK

• Alex Eala at Oeiras Ladies Open
• NBA Play-in Tournament tips off April 16 (Wednesday)
• PBA PH Cup – SMB vs MAG (April 16, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.)