Petro Gazz delivered a commanding performance as it prepared for the knockout quarterfinals, transforming what was anticipated to be a fiercely competitive match against Chery Tiggo into a decisive 25-20, 25-16, 25-12 triumph in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday.
Wilma Salas and Brooke Van Sickle were instrumental in Petro Gazz’s dominance, combining for an impressive 33 points. Their relentless attacking prowess proved insurmountable for the Crossovers, propelling the Angels to their fourth consecutive victory and closing the eliminations with a 5-3 win-loss record.
Despite tying with Chery Tiggo and Capital1, Petro Gazz secured the No. 6 seed with 14 total points, just one point behind Chery Tiggo, who claimed the No. 5 spot with 15 points. The Solar Spikers finished seventh with 13 points.
This result sets up a highly anticipated quarterfinal showdown between the Angels and the No. 3 seed Creamline Cool Smashers on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the cutthroat quarterfinals will kick off tomorrow (Saturday), with No. 2 seed Cignal facing No. 7 Capital1, while top-seed Akari, undefeated in the tournament, will go up against Farm Fresh, which secured the final quarterfinal spot after Choco Mucho's three-set loss to PLDT in the second game.
Petro Gazz initially faced resistance in the opening set, but it quickly asserted its dominance in the following sets. Salas led the charge with 21 points, with Van Sickle providing strong support with 12 points.
The Angels' overpowering display left little room for Chery Tiggo to mount a serious challenge, allowing Petro Gazz to carry a wave of momentum into the next round.
Kath Bell struggled to find her rhythm, managing just eight points, the same output put in. by Mylene Paat, while Cess Robles contributed six points.
Chery Tiggo now faces a daunting quarterfinal clash against the in-form PLDT, also on Tuesday.
Petro Gazz’s superior offense was evident as they recorded 44 attack points, 20 more than Chery Tiggo. Though the Crossovers excelled in blocking with five blocks compared to Petro Gazz’s single block, the Angels countered with six service aces against Chery Tiggo’s lone ace.
Salas and Van Sickle were also pivotal in defense, with Salas tallying seven excellent receptions and Van Sickle matching Jellie Tempiatura's seven excellent digs.
