From the bottom of the standings, the Petro Gazz Angels have launched themselves back into contention for a top two spot in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, quelling the Pocari Sweat-Air Force Lady Warriors, 25-19, 20-25, 28-26, 25-21, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Petro Gazz needed to muster comebacks in the third and fourth set to escape with the win. Trailing 9-16 in the third frame, the Angels went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by four consecutive aces from Olena Lymareva-Flink. Dragged into a deuce, the Angels caught just enough breaks in the end to come away with a 2-1 lead. Their luck was best seen in the set’s final point, in which a Chie Saet dig ricocheted into Pocari Sweat’s court.
The Angels then alleviated a 12-17 Pocari Sweat advantage in the fourth frame, scoring 13 of the next 17 points to close the match.
Lymareva-Flink finished with 30 points off 25 attacks and five aces. Coach Jerry Yee praised his import’s resiliency.
“She’s very professional. Medyo napagod na nga kasi dumating dito noong Thursday, tapos sunod-sunod pa ‘yung nga laro namin. We’re really trying to take care of out players,” said Yee of the Ukranian reinforcement, who replaced Kaddi Kullerkann just last week.
Anastasiia Trach added 17 points, while middle blocker Cherry Nunag managed eight.
“Kumakapit eh, (it’s) good, it shows na kahit papaano meron tayong detremination, may kapit,” Yee remarked about the win. “(But) we try to work on sa mga slow starts na ganyan hindi pwede ‘yan.”
Myla Pablo tallied 20 points, while Maddie Palmer managed 17 to lead Pocari Sweat.
The Angels (3-3) end their first round on June 2 against the PayMaya High Flyers (3-2). The Lady Warriors (3-3) take on the Tacloban Fighting Warays (2-3) on June 3.
The Scores
Petro Gazz (3) – Lymareva 30, Trach 17, Nunag 8, Saet 5, Musa 4, Mercado 3, Nepomuceno 2, Cheng 0, Mendrez 0, Cruz (L), Enclona (L)
Pocari Sweat-Air Force (1) – Pablo 20, Palmer 17, Love 13, Panaga 9, Antipuesto 4, Palomata 1, Semana 1, Andaya 0, Racraquin 0, Tempiatura (L)
