The Petro Gazz Angels sprinted to a strong start only to lose steam at the end, falling to Taipei’s China Man-made Fiber Corporation, 26-24, 25-17, 21-25, 14-25, 15-17, in the 2019 Taichung Bank International Women’s Invitational Volleyball Tournament, Monday.
Behind the quartet of Jonah Sabete, Jovie Prado, Cherry Nunag, and Paneng Mercado, the reigning queens of the PVL Reinforced Conference seized control in the early goings to mount a 2-0 set advantage.
Petro Gazz seemed headed for a rousing sweep up, until CMFC found its footing.
The Taipei-based squad fought back through the collective efforts of Li Weng Chang, Yi Ching Lo, and Croatian reinforcement Matea Magdić, to forge a decider.
The Filipinas still put up a gallant stand in the final stretch. Unfortunately, they succumbed in the decisive frame that went the distance.
Sabete scintillated with 25 points, hammering down 18 attacks, six kill blocks, and a service ace that went down the drain. Prado poured in all of her 13 points from the attacking department. Nunag supplied nine attacks and a pair of kill blocks for 11 markers, while Mercado chipped in nine points.
The Angels also pulled contributions from team captain Chie Saet and Jeanette Panaga, as they chimed in seven markers apiece. Kai Baloaloa managed three points.
On the other hand, Chang topped the CMFC with 19 points. Lo and Magdić added 17 and 16 markers, respectively.
Petro Gazz has fallen to a two-game losing skid, as the Angels dropped their curtain-raiser to Top Speed of Taiwan, 17-25, 14-25, 20-25, last Saturday.
The Angels will try to soar into the winner’s circle when they take on the delegates of Japan on Tuesday, September 17.
