The Angels pulled through in a wild fourth-set finish but not on their merits but on the Chargers’ back-to-back miscues as Fifi Sharma, who earlier tied the count at 30 with a quick blast, served into the net, putting Petro Gazz back at match point.
In Akari’s ensuing offense, Janel Maraguinot scrambled for the second ball on the right side, blocking Eli Soyud’s path and leading to a collision as the Chargers failed to launch a decent attack.
That ended Akari’s semis hopes while keeping Petro Gazz in the hunt although the Angels’ chances rely on the results of the other matches, particularly the one between contender Chery Tiggo and ousted F2 Logistics being played at presstime.
Cignal, which earlier defeated Nxled, 25-17, 25-14, 25-14, is also expected to advance, pending its final elims match against winless Gerflor on Dec. 5.
Marian Buitre shone for Petro Gazz with an explosive 22-hit performance, including 16 attack points, four blocks and two aces, as the former UP standout took the game’s top honors.
“It’s overwhelming, we’re happy. This is do-or-die and we need to win our remaining games to get a chance (for the semis),” said Buitre,
The Angels hiked their record to 6-4 for solo fifth behind the Cignal HD Spikers 7-3. Petro Gazz plays PLDT in its last elims match on Dec. 5.
After splitting the first two sets in virtually the same fashions, the Angels’ took control late in the pivotal frame then fended off the Chargers’ fightback to seize a 2-1 set lead. They sustained their pace in the fourth, controlling the tempo early on before moving to match point at 24-19.
But the Chargers mounted a searing fightback anchored on Dindin Manabat’s stellar play, including a four-point spree in their 5-0 run that extended the match.
The loss dropped Akari from the Final Four chase as the Chargers fell to 5-5 before facing the unbeaten defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers on Thursday.
Although they stayed in the hunt, the Angels don’t have complete control over their fate and the outcome of the other teams’ matches will influence their chances for a backdoor bid.
Petro Gazz’s hope lies in the possibility that Chery Tiggo drops its last three matches and Cignal yields to Gerflor, creating an opportunity for the Angels to gain a crack at one of the last two hotly-disputed semis berths.
Aiza Pontillas finished with 19 points, including a couple of crucial crosscourt hits late in the fourth, while Grethcel Soltones added 18 makers and Nicole Tiamzon wound up with nine points in the Angels’ scrambling two-hour and eight-minute escape.
Manabat sizzled with a 26-point output while Erika Raagas, Faith Nisperos and Sharma made 12, 11 and nine points, respectively, for the Chargers, who gained 24 points from the Angels' miscues while giving up 21 unforced errors, the last two ruined their incredible fourth-set comeback and their semis’ aspirations.
