Petro Gazz clinched a decisive 25-18, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Choco Mucho last night, marking a significant morale boost for the two-time champion after a series of setbacks in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena.
Despite falling short of the top three spots in Pool B with a 2-3 record, the Angels’ straight-set triumph over the Flying Titans could serve as a turning point as they prepare to face the top three teams in Pool B during the crossover round starting Saturday.
The top eight teams will then advance to the knockout quarterfinals.
The victory was crucial for the Angels, who had endured three consecutive losses against the Capital1 Solar Spikers, the Akari Chargers, and the Cignal HD Spikers, following an initial shutout win over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.
“Coming from those losses was really tough, so the team’s morale was quite low,” admitted veteran playmaker Chie Saet in Pilipino. “But we are very thankful to the coaches and management for still believing in us.”
Wilma Salas led the charge with 18 points, while Brooke Van Sickle added 17 markers and Myla Pablo contributed 11 points, playing all three sets for the first time this season. This formidable trio propelled the Angels to their much-needed win.
“I just did my job as a player. I’m very happy and thankful to our coach for the trust he has given me. It means a lot to be able to play,” said Pablo, who had been used sparingly in the Angels’ first four games.
“I appreciate the performance of the team; we hadn’t won for the longest time,” said coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
Saet, who recorded 15 excellent sets and scored four points, highlighted the team’s resolve to bounce back from their recent poor performances.
“It’s our determination to win this game. We didn’t expect to win in three sets since Choco Mucho is a strong team. We were just lucky,” Saet added.
Looking ahead to their upcoming matches against the top Pool A teams, including Creamline, Chery Tiggo, and either PLDT or Farm Fresh, Petro Gazz is committed to intensifying their training.
“We will prepare harder, stay more focused in training, and go all-out in every game in the next round,” said Saet.
Choco Mucho, missing their top scorer Sisi Rondina, finished with a 1-4 record.
The Angels dominated the one-hour, 26-minute match, delivering 51 spikes compared to Choco Mucho’s 33. They also capitalized on their rivals’ poor service reception, netting five aces.
Dindin Manabat led the scoring for the Flying Titans with 13 points, while Isa Molde, Royse Tubino, and Maika Ortiz added six, five, and four points, respectively, as import Zoi Faki struggled, contributing only three markers in a two-set stint.
