Petro Gazz handed Cignal its first loss in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference via a four-set, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-14 win on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas dropped 19 points, all from the attack line, to go along with 12 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions to finish with a triple-double for the Angels, who finally broke into the win column after five games.
“Matagal naming inantay na ma-break yung cycle na nagiging problems namin sa technical and sa emotion ng mga players,” said assistant coach Rald Ricafort, who subbed in for fellow assistant Arnold Laniog, who is currently under the weather.
“Yun namin sabi namin whether sino yung kalaban. Makakuha lang kami ng isa siguro magiging magandang bwelo kung ano ‘man mangyari. Sabi namin wala na rin naman ng pressure rin since ganito na yung situation namin pero hindi naman pwede tapusin na lang nang ganun,” he added.
Petro Gazz raced to a 12-point advantage, 20-8, in the fourth set after a quick coming from MJ Phillips.
Kla Abriam brought the HD Spikers to within seven, 14-21, before Maizo-Pontillas took charge late to seal the upset.
The HD Spikers lost top spiker Ces Molina in the second set with Cignal trailing by nine points, 13-22. Molina went down with an apparent right ankle injury after landing on Maizo-Pontillas’ left foot following a block attempt.
Remy Palma scored 17 points while Phillips and Nicole Tiamzon added 15 and 13, respectively, for the Angels.
Chie Saet steered the offense with 28 excellent sets to go along with four points while Bang Pineda patrolled the floor with 25 digs and eight receptions.
The HD Spikers erased a three-point deficit, 14-17, and went on an insane 10-1 blast to take a 24-18 advantage in the first set. Phillips saved a point for the Angels before Ria Meneses completed the comeback with a quick.
In the second frame, the Angels went on a massive run that saw them lead by as much as 11 points, 21-10, off a double contact violation called on Meneses. Petro Gazz went on to tie the game after consecutive hits from Maizo-Pontillas and Palma.
Nicole Tiamzon, meanwhile, proved to be the hero for Petro Gazz in the third set. She delivered three of the Angels’ last four points in the narrow 25-23 win that put her team up 2-1 in the match.
Meneses led Cignal with 10 points on eight attacks and two blocks while Rachel Daquis, Jerrili Malabanan, Angeli Araneta, and Abriam had eight points each.
Petro Gazz looks to cap off its campaign on a winning note, taking on Choco Mucho on Saturday at 5:30 PM while Cignal will face off against PLDT earlier that day at 2:30 PM.
