BATANGAS – Petro Gazz picked up its second straight win on the road but needed to go through some anxious moments before holding off a late-charging Gerflor side for a 25-11, 25-4, 25-23 victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference here on Saturday.
Nicole Tiamzon banged in back-to-back crosscourt attacks at endgame to frustrate the Defenders, who battled back from a couple of six-point deficits in the third frame, the last at 11-17, to draw level at 22 on Lhara Clavano’s two straight hits to the delight of the packed crowd at the Batangas City Sports Center.
Gerflor even appeared to have grabbed the lead after a wide crosscourt hit ruling on Marian Buitre in the ensuing play. But the Angels contested the call and won the challenge, thus regaining the lead before Tiamzon came through with those blasts that sandwiched a Buitre service miscue.
“I was very happy because they (Angels) responded to what we studied, what we talked about during training,” said Petro Gazz coach Timmy Sto. Tomas. “I gave credit to them. They worked hard and persevered.”
The third set escape came after the Angels held the Defenders to a paltry four-point output in the second set, the second lowest in league history. Creamline limited BaliPure to three points, also in the second set, in the PVL bubble in Ilocos Norte in 2021.
“Even though we had long rallies during the (second) set, we were able to get the break points. Our service also clicked that’s why Gerflor had a tough time to mount a counter,” added Sto. Tomas, one of the league mentors blessed with a solid crew.
Djanel Cheng, for one, came up with an 11-excellent set game, her brilliant playmaking producing easy hits for the team’s wing spikers while keeping Gerflor’s net defense guessing majority of the way.
“Sobrang swerte ko talaga for having players who know their roles. Kahit sino ipasok, alam nila ang gagawin at talagang magde-deliver,” he added.
Tiamzon, who didn’t see action the first time out, finished with six attack points and two aces, while Buitre also had six spikes and two blocks, both in two-set stints.
Grethcel Soltones and Ranya Musa posted seven markers each while Jonah Sabete and Remy Palma matched six-point outputs for the Angels, who will take on the Nxled Chameleons in another PVL on Tour game in Ilocos Sur on Oct. 28.
Grace Berte scored six points while Menchie Tubiera added five markers for the Defenders, who fell to 0-2 in a tie with the Farm Fresh Foxies in the bottom of a record 12-team cast in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
