Petro Gazz played the spoiler, eliminating Choco Mucho in the semifinals race, 28-26, 25-21, 25-16 to end its 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference campaign on a winning note, Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Starring in the Angels’ second consecutive win to end the conference is MJ Phillips with 19 points on 16 attacks, two kill blocks, and an ace.
Petro Gazz ended its campaign at fifth place with a 2-4 standing. This is the first time that the organization will miss the playoffs since the PVL Reinforced Conference in 2018.
“Ito yung pinaka naging struggle ng team yung from the losses. Sabi ko nga hindi naman bibigat yung laro, hindi namin masyadong pagtutuunan na dahil last game nila. Ang dapat naming pagtuunan yung naging issues namin internally,” said Angels assistant coach Rald Ricafort.
“Masaya kami ‘di lang dahil sa win pero dahil naayos namin yung struggles namin. Sana madala namin sa next na conference,” he added.
The Angels escaped a tight opening set before eventually sealing the Flying Titans’ fate with another victory in the second frame.
From there, Petro Gazz pounced on the deflated Choco Mucho and built an eight-point lead in the third frame, 22-14. Isa Molde and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas exchanged hits as Ponggay Gaston scored one back to keep the Flying Titans’ hopes alive.
Nicole Tiamzon then put her side at match point, 24-16, before the Angels’ impenetrable blocking denied Gaston above the net which sealed the win.
Myla Pablo scored 14 points along with 10 excellent digs while Maizo-Pontillas added 11 points and six excellent receptions for the Angels.
Remy Palma and Nicole Tiamzon combined for 15 points while setter and team captain Chie Saet delivered 22 excellent sets.
On the other hand, Gaston registered a triple-double of 13 points, 16 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions for Choco Mucho — who ended its stint at sixth place with a 2-4 slate.
Kat Tolentino, meanwhile, went 8-for-39 on attacks with 11 points while Deanna Wong was held to just 12 excellent sets in the contest. Des Cheng provided the spark off the bench with seven points.
With Choco Mucho now eliminated, Army-Black Mamba has secured its spot in the playoffs joining Creamline, Cignal, PLDT, Kobe Shinwa University, and KingWhale Taipei.
