In a clash of streaking teams, Petro Gazz rolled to its sixth straight victory while halting Chery Tiggo’s impressive seven-game run with a 20-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-16 victory to join Choco Mucho at the top of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Thursday night.
Brooke Van Sickle played a pivotal role in Petro Gazz’s resurgence, especially in the second frame, where she unloaded a series of powerful hits during the crucial moments that practically scuttled the Crossovers’ rally.
Her performance propelled the Angels to dominate the next two sets, bringing them closer to their dream of reaching the championship in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
A two-time Reinforced Conference champion, Petro Gazz faced challenges in its first crack at the All-Filipino crown, yielding to Creamline last year and struggling to a sixth-place finish in the last AFC, won again by the Cool Smashers last December.
However, with the addition of Van Sickle, a former US NCAA Division I player, during the off-season, the Angels surged to the top of the standings in the elimination round, finishing ahead of Choco Mucho, Chery Tiggo and Creamline.
In the semis opener, the Angels initially groped trying to find their form and rhythm, allowing the Crossovers to take early control. Led by Eya Laure, Ara Galang, Aby Maraño, Cza Carandang and EJ Laure, Chery Tiggo seized the momentum in a match expected to be closely contested.
But Petro Gazz regrouped in the second frame, with Van Sickle leading the charge and her teammates, including Aiza Pontillas, MJ Phillips, Jonah Sabete and Remy Palma, providing crucial support and defensive prowess. Despite a shaky start in the pivotal third set, the Angels surged to a commanding lead, cashing in on Chery Tiggo’s miscues and mishits while maintaining their advantage throughout the match.
Held to a tight 9-all count in the fourth, Van Sickle took over again, spearheading a 5-point run fueled by Djanel Cheng’s exceptional playmaking abilities, which also showcased Philips’ remarkable quick attack prowess, highlighting the Angels’ teamwork under pressure, leading to a 20-12 advantage.
Despite the Crossovers racking up three consecutive points, the Angels swiftly quelled their rally with timely hits, maintaining control at 16-10 until the match was halted due to a power breakdown in the production van. Upon its restoration, the Angels efficiently sealed the victory as Palma delivered a down-the-line hit to propel the team to match point, followed by Van Sickle’s kill, which secured the victory for Petro Gazz.
Pontillas’ game-long brilliance led to an 18-point performance and the game’s top honors. She later emphasized the significance of communication in their remarkable fightback from an initial set defeat.
“We were rattled at the beginning, but eventually, everything fell into place because we communicated effectively,” said the seasoned hitter from Iloilo.
Van Sickle stood at the forefront of the Angels’ assault, scoring 21 points, including 18 on attacks, while Phillips shone with 16 markers and Sabete and Palma backed them up with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Cheng, who upstaged counterpart Alina Bicar with 18 excellent sets, also chipped in four points in their two-hour and 25-minute victory.
Eya Laure led Chery Tiggo with 15 points while Galang scored 10 markers and Carandang finished with eight points for the Crossovers, who also drew seven points from Maraño and five markers from EJ Laure.
