Petro Gazz closed in on the twice-to-beat playoffs advantage after a four-set win against PLDT, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 25-18 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference’s Pool B, Monday at the Paco Arena.
The Angels slowly pulled away in the fourth set, banking on a couple of errors from the side of the High Speed Hitters to kick-start a 6-1 spurt and take a 19-13 lead.
Dell Palomata ended the drought through a runner, but a net touch on Mika Reyes, followed by Seth Rodriguez’s block on Jessie De Leon, extended the Petro Gazz lead to seven points.
Nicole Tiamzon and Eli Soyud exchanged hits before the latter’s attack went long which put the Angels at match-point, 24-17.
Soyud converted another kill before Aiza Maizo-Pontillas blocked Chin Basas for the win.
“Ugly win pero ayun, masarap manalo ng ganun e,” said Petro Gazz head coach Jerry Yee. “Parang parehas kami ng status ng team ni coach George [Pascua], nagsisimula so ayun, good.”
Tiamzon paced Petro Gazz’s balanced offensive attack with 13 points. MJ Phillips had 11 points built on eight attacks and three blocks while Jonah Sabate had 10 markers for the Angels.
Maizo-Pontillas added nine points and 10 excellent digs while Chie Saet tossed 20 excellent sets to go along with a point.
With the win, Petro Gazz is now a win away from clinching the top spot in Pool B.
“Hindi naman kami nag sho-shortcut talaga, so we watch videos and review, practice everyday, so same preparations [sa] Creamline so siyempre ayaw naman nating bubugbugin tayo so a little bit more handa,” he added.
Soyud led the High Speed Hitters with 17 points on 12 attacks, three blocks, and two aces. Dell Palomata added 10 points while Mika Reyes had eight points.
Kath Arado put up 35 excellent digs in the win while Rhea Dimaculangan had 23 excellent sets.
Petro Gazz will go up against Creamline on Wednesday at 6:00 PM while PLDT looks to secure its first win against fellow winless squad BaliPure on the same dat at 3:00 PM.
