Petro Gazz bolstered its Finals hopes with a dramatic comeback from six points down in the fourth set before proving its composure in the clutch against Choco Mucho, 24-26, 25-19, 25-17, 27-25, to remain unbeaten in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena.
The Angels, now 2-0 in the round-robin semis, can secure a Finals berth with a win against the Akari Chargers on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Even if they lose, they can still advance if Creamline falls to Choco Mucho.
Another possible scenario is a three-way tie at 2-1 among the Angels, Chargers, and Cool Smashers, where Petro Gazz would have to rely on the tiebreak system. Otherwise, they would face a playoff for the last Finals slot.
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“Choco Mucho did a fantastic job. Even their fans—it’s so cool to play in environments like that. Just so much energy. It can be hard to focus, but I thought we did a great job just staying calm and together,” said Brooke Van Sickle after their hard-fought victory.
Choco Mucho looked poised to force a deciding fifth set, with surprise insertion Mean Mendrez and star Sisi Rondina pushing the Flying Titans to a 21-15 lead in the fourth.
However, the Angels had other plans, unleashing an eight-point run. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Ranya Musa capitalized on Rondina’s crucial errors to tie the set at 21, before back-to-back service aces from Djanel Cheng put Petro Gazz ahead, 23-21.
At match point, 24-22, Royse Tubino fired a down-the-line kill, which was initially called in. Petro Gazz challenged the call, prompting AVC Thai international referee Sasiprapa Pimthongkhonburi to call for a referee’s review.
The initial wide-angle view confirmed the ball was in, but the Angels insisted on further review.
The video challenge team then provided two sideline angles, both obstructed — one by a player’s shoe and the other by a lineman’s flag — rendering the challenge inconclusive, allowing Choco Mucho to retain the point.
Tubino then denied Myla Pablo in the next rally to force deuce at 24-all.
After an exchange of points, the Angels finally sealed the match after two hours and 34 minutes with a Pablo down-the-line kill, followed by a well-placed push shot that landed in the middle of Choco Mucho’s defense.
Van Sickle spearheaded Petro Gazz with an all-around performance of 17 points, 22 receptions, and 12 digs, while MJ Phillips contributed 14 points.
Pablo added 13 points, including five of Petro Gazz’s 16 blocks, doubling Choco Mucho’s eight blocks.
Pontillas, the catalyst in their fourth-set comeback, finished with eight points, four of which came from blocks, while Jonah Sabete chipped in nine points.
The Flying Titans are still in contention for a Finals spot but must defeat the Cool Smashers while hoping that Akari upsets Petro Gazz to force a three-way tie at 1-2.
From there, they would need to rely on the tiebreak system to determine their fate.
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Rondina led Choco Mucho with 25 points but struggled offensively, converting only 19 of her 75 spike attempts.
Support was scarce, with Isa Molde finishing as the team’s second-highest scorer with 12 points, followed by Celine Domingo’s eight points.
With the Finals race heating up, Petro Gazz remains in control of its destiny, while Choco Mucho clings to a slim hope of making the championship round.
