A day after their first loss at the hands of Creamline in the PVL Reinforced Conference Season 3, the Petro Gazz Angels swiftly got back on track, venting their ire on the PacificTown-Army Lady Troopers, 29-27, 25-20, 25-24, Sunday evening at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Petro Gazz made a quick return to the win column, and remain perched atop the standings with an 8-1 slate. The third-seeded Lady Troopers, meanwhile, dropped to an even 4-4 card above BanKo, who hold a 3-5 record.
The Angels found themselves in a heap of trouble in the opening salvo when the Lady Troopers pushed the league leaders to a twice-to-win situation early in the game. But after a bevy of differential hits, Petro Gazz took an early advantage.
Though PacificTown stuck with the Angels in the second set, the latter created crucial separation to push the Lady Troopers down a 0-2 set hole. Behind high-scoring imports Janisa Johnson and Wilma Salas, however, Petro Gazz broke the game wide open in the third frame to complete a sweep of the gutsy PacificTown side.
“Sinasabayan namin yung pacing ng kalaban. Kaya sabi ko nung last set, kung kaya na manalo tayo ng conviction, [gawin natin],” Petro Gazz head coach Arnold Laniog said.
“Kasi nung first two sets wala kaming comfortable na lead, dahil yung Army mga beterano yan. Hindi yan basta-basta, lalamang kami biglang hahabol agad. Nung nag-third set nag-adjust na,” Laniog added.
Cuban import Salas top-scored with 22 points built on 18 attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Her fellow reinforcement Johnson was a point behind with 21 markers, on top of 11 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs – a volleyball triple-double.
No local graced twin-digit territory for the Angels. Cherry Nunag scored seven markers.
Olena Lymareva-Flink was the lone bright spot for PacificTown, tallying 16 points off 15 attacks and an ace. Jem Guttierez added seven points, while Jenelle Jordan was limited to five points.
Petro Gazz notched eight blocks to PacificTown’s sole block from Jordan herself.
Petro Gazz look to end their elimination round on a high when they face Motolite on Saturday, June 29. PacificTown-Army will try to bounce back and topple the surging Creamline Cool Smashers on Wednesday, June 26. Both games will be played at the same venue.
