MJ Philips made a triumphant return to Petro Gazz, delivering 11 points as the Angels overcame the Nxled Chameleons, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22, to clinch the top spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims at the Philsports Arena Saturday.
Philips, fresh from a stint in the Korean league, made an immediate impact with a string of quick attacks in the stretch, helping anchor the Angels’ victory in an intense battle that lasted two hours and nine minutes.
With five consecutive victories to close out the preliminaries, Petro Gazz joined Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo at 9-2. However, the Angels’ four-set win over the Chameleons earned them three crucial points, propelling the two-time Reinforced Conference champions to the top spot with 28 points.
Choco Mucho took the second spot with 26 points while Chery Tiggo settled for third with 25 points. Creamline secured the fourth slot with an 8-3 slate.
That set the stage for an exciting semifinals with Choco Mucho facing Creamline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by the Petro Gazz-Chery Tiggo duel at 6 p.m., both at the Philsports Arena.
The Cool Smashers dominated the Flying Titans in their elims matchup last April 18, captivating a massive crowd of over 17,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. As action stays at the more intimate Pasig venue, anticipation runs high for the upcoming matches, especially with the equally-enticing duel between the Angels and the Crossovers.
Next up on May 2, Petro Gazz locks horns with Creamline while Choco Mucho squares off with Chery Tiggo with both games promising to deliver another exhilarating display of skill and passion, ensuring a spectacle that fans won’t soon forget.
Brooke Van Sickle primed up for the post-elims play with a 26-point showing she highlighted with 15 excellent digs, while Jonah Sabete fired 12 points and Aiza Pontillas matched Phillips’s output as the Angels spoiled Ivy Lacsina’s new career-high performance.
Lacsina exploded with 28 points, besting her previous high of 27 points with former team F2 Logistics, while Jho Maraguinot scored 15 markers and Camille Victoria, Lycha Ebon and Kamille Cal added 11, 10 and eight points, respectively, for Nxled, which wound up eighth with a 4-7 slate.
Before solidifying their status as the top team, the Angels had to overcome a determined Nxled side that pushed them to their limits from the onset. The Chameleons’ strong performance in the first set carried over into the second, but the Angels’ experience and composure proved crucial in turning the tide in their favor.
Despite Nxled’s gutsy stand, Petro Gazz displayed its championship poise, pulling through in the crucial moments to secure the hard-fought victory for the needed confidence and momentum heading into the semis of the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
After Jho Maraguinot tied the match for the last time at 19, Philips took over and scored four of the Angels last six points, including three on quick attacks and a smart push. Kamille Cai saved a match point on a hit but Camille Victoria served into the net, handing the victory and the No. 1 spot to the Angels.
