Coming off a lopsided loss to Creamline, PLDT bounced back with a five-set win against Petro Gazz, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 16-14 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
Jules Samonte dropped a personal conference-high of 18 points on 16 attacks, an ace, and a block to go along with 15 excellent digs to help the High Speed Hitters move to the fourth spot with a 2-1 slate.
“Sabi ko nga nung fifth set, patibayan na lang ng dibdib e. Kasi knowing ang Petro Gazz, puro beterano na sila,” said PLDT head coach George Pascua after the win.
“So basta sabi ko sa mga players, disiplina lang sa system, disiplina sa game plan. Yung goal namin na manalo nandoon, nakita namin until the last point na lumaban sila,” he added.
The High Speed Hitters used an early 6-0 blast powered by Mika Reyes to take a comfortable 8-2 advantage in the fifth set. But MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo keyed a 7-1 comeback from the Angels to even the scores at 9-all.
Chin Basas and Eli Soyud scored back-to-back spikes, while Grethcel Soltones committed consecutive attack errors. That gave PLDT a 13-9 lead.
Not wanting to go down without a fight, MJ Phillips connected on a running attack. Soltones delivered an ace to trim the lead to two, but Soyud once again came through to put her side at match point.
Phillips and Nicole Tiamzon kept Petro Gazz alive, slicing the lead to just one before Soyud failed to get one over the net which tied the game at 14-all. Phillips’ service was swallowed by the net in the following play, then Heather Guino-o converted an ace to seal the win.
Reyes scored a conference-high eight blocks to end up with 13 points for the High Speed Hitters. Basas also chipped in 13 markers with 12 coming from the attack line.
Rhea Dimaculangan dished out 19 excellent sets to go along with three points while Fiolla Ceballos had six points and 14 excellent receptions. Kath Arado had 16 excellent digs.
The Angels took the opener after Soltones scored two points in a 3-0 run that put them ahead, 24-21. Basas saved a point for the High Speed Hitters, but Phillips immediately answered with a quick to seal the 1-0 lead.
PLDT was down one, 20-21, late in the second set. Then Soyud kick-started a 4-0 blast to give her side a 24-21 advantage. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas stopped the bleeding for Petro Gazz before Jules Samonte’s off-the-block hit tied the series at 1-all.
The High Speed Hitters were already ahead 22-17, before ending the third frame with a 3-0 blast to grab a 2-1 advantage against the Angels. Petro Gazz, though, did not go down without a fight. It pulled away late in the fourth to send the game to a decider.
Soltones, who missed the Angels’ first two matches, led the team with 18 points, and 18 excellent receptions. Phillips had 14 attacks and three kill blocks for 17 points. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas chipped in 14 points.
Chie Saet finished with 27 excellent sets, while Bang Pineda had 35 excellent digs.
Petro Gazz dropped to 0-3 in the standings.
PLDT will face the streaking Army-Black Mamba on Saturday at 2:30 PM (MOA Arena). Meanwhile, Petro Gazz looks to save its campaign against fellow winless squad Chery Tiggo on Thursday at 2:30 PM (Sta. Rosa Sports Complex).
