Refusing to leave anything to chance, the Petro Gazz Angels punched their tickets to the Finals for the first time since their debut last year, Saturday afternoon.
The Angels orchestrated a sweep of the BanKo Perlas Spikers, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17, in Game Two of the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference best-of-three semifinal series, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
“Noong una, di halatang masaya pero masayang-masaya. Na-reach na namin target namin, bigay todo na ‘to to get the championship,” Petro Gazz head coach Arnold Laniog said.
Figuring in a tight affair in the opening salvo, the Angels continued to rely on their high-octane offense as they kept pounding BanKo’s vaunted defense.
The wall the Perlas Spikers have built was then toppled, letting the flood gates open for the Angels to exploit.
Behind its steady reinforcements in Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson and middle blockers in Jeanette Panaga and Cherry Nunag, Petro Gazz broke the game wide open in the second and third sets to formalize its trip to the Finals.
Salas, the Cuban national, hammered 23 points to lead all scorers. Fellow import Johnson, meanwhile, showcased another all-around performance, tallying 13 points, 13 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions.
Complimenting their reinforcements, Panaga and Nunag contributed nine and seven markers. The former produced four of her team’s six aces while netting two blocks.
Petro Gazz setter Djanel Cheng tossed 21 excellent sets to fuel the Angels’ offense.
On the other hand, BanKo bows out of contention.
Moreover, the Perlas Spiker only have one player in double-digit territory in Stix Horton. Horton pummeled nine attacks for 10 points.
Nicole Tiamzon managed eight points while Kathy Bersola had five markers. BanKo setter Jem Ferrer notched 24 excellent sets and a point.
Thai import Sutadta Chuewulim only had five points but she contributed on the defensive end with 11 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
The Angels await the outcome of the other semifinal bout between PacificTown-Army and Creamline. They will face the winner in the Finale which will start on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
