Petro Gazz went through the wringer for the third straight time, but unlike in its five-set defeat to Choco Mucho that ruined its semifinals drive, the Angels pulled through against the Akari Power Chargers, 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 20-25, 15-7, to wind up ninth in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.
Blowing a huge 2-0 set lead practically due to what coach Oliver Almadro described as her wards’ “complacency,” the Angels regrouped in the decider, racing to a big 5-1 lead on Aiza Pontillas’ three-hit binge and cruising to victory on Grethcel Soltones’ endgame exploits aided by the Power Chargers’ miscues.
That included a Lut Malaluan service error after the Power Chargers saved two match points on Soltones’ own errant serve and Faith Nisperos’ off-the-block hit for a 7-14 count, enabling the Angels to nail the victory in the Classification round after a runner-up finish in the All-Filipino Conference.
“That’s what we reminded each other, let’s get this game. But you can’t count out Akari, which is a very talented team, well-coached and well-prepared,” said Almadro. “Good thing, naka-bwelo kami ng dalawa (2-0) and we’re happy for the contributions of all the players.”
Petro Gazz played without top hitter Remy Palma but Marian Buitre stepped up to fire 10 points, matching Pontillas’ output while Soltones and Jonah Sabete led the team’s assault again with 19 and 15 points, respectively.
Djanel Cheng anchored the team’s offense with 14 excellent sets while scoring seven points as she bagged the Player of the Game honors after a two-hour, 23-minute match that had looked like a breeze for the Angels but ended up in a grind the way they nipped the F2 Cargo Movers in five last July 11 to boost their semis bid.
But a tough loss to the Flying Titans three nights later all but scuttled their goal of advancing to the next phase as F2 Logistics and Cignal went on to clinch the coveted slots.
“We’re happy na rin at natapos ng maayos. Moving forward, we have to train and prepare for the next tournament,” said Cheng.
Two-way player Eli Soyud, who keyed Akari’s stirring fightback in the third and fourth sets with Erika Raagas and Malaluan, scored the team’s first two points in the fifth against the Angels’ five but the Power Chargers struggled with their passing, leading to a number of foiled attacks as Petro Gazz stormed away at 10-2 on a Kecelyn Galdones’ block off Nisperos’ backrow attack.
Akari countered with three straight hits, including two off the Angels’ service miscues, but Soltones came through with an ace to cap Petro Gazz’s own three-hit splurge and Soyud’s mishit that ended the game’s longest rally put the Angels at match point.
Soyud finished with 19 points, including three blocks, while drawing support from Raagas, Nisperos and Malaluan, who scored 14, 11 and four points, respectively, with Dindin Manabat putting in an eight-hit game and Krich Macaslang adding six points.
Akari, which posted a 1-3 slate in Pool A elims, ended up 10th overall in the 13-team field.
