Building off a captivating five-set win over defending champion Creamline, Petro Gazz sent Cignal to the brink of elimination in dominant fashion, winning 25-13, 25-18, 25-17, for a piece of the second spot in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday.
The Angels secured their third straight win for a 7-2 record, tied with the Cool Smashers, but the former hold the tiebreaker due to superior points (22-21).
“Masaya po kaming lahat. Mas lumilinaw po yung daan papunta sa semis pero hindi pa rin po tapos yung eliminations, hindi pa rin po kami pwedeng magrelax,” said team captain Remy Palma, who had eight points in the win.
After losing the first two sets by big margins, the HD Spikers looked to have returned to their senses in the third, opening with a 9-5 lead.
However, the Angels clawed back and were able to take a one-point lead, 14-13.
Then they unleashed six straight points thanks to Brooke Van Sickle, Jonah Sabete, and Aiza Pontillas for a 20-13 lead en route to the win in just one hour and 39 minutes.
“I appreciate Cignal, they gave us a hard game. Cignal is strong. I didn’t sleep last night,” said Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
Sabete continued her stellar play for the Angels with 16 points on 13 attacks, two blocks, and an ace along with 12 excellent digs.
Van Sickle followed with 13 points, while Pontillas and Palma had nine and eight points, respectively.
Petro Gazz will play its penultimate preliminary round match on Saturday at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna against Galeries Tower before capping it against Nxled.
On the other hand, the HD Spikers fell to their second consecutive defeat, absorbing a huge blow to their semis hopes as they dropped to 5-4 at sixth.
Nobody reached double figures in the loss with Vanie Gandler and Ces Molina leading the way with eight points each.
Cignal will also return on Saturday against PLDT.
