Shaking off a lackluster first-set performance, Petro Gazz stormed back to sweep the next three sets and secure a 12-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-20 victory over PLDT in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday.
Three Angels delivered double-digit scores to counter Savi Davison’s explosive 28-point showing, propelling Petro Gazz to their fourth win (4-1) in five games and second place in the standings, just behind the unbeaten Cignal HD Spikers (4-0), whom they will face this Saturday before the league heads into a holiday break.
Myla Pablo, steadily returning to her peak form, tallied a conference-high 19 points, including a decisive through-the-block hit that sealed the match in one hour and 51 minutes.
Brooke Van Sickle, however, shone the brightest with a game-high 21 points, complemented by 12 digs and eight receptions, further solidifying her pivotal role in the team.
Reflecting on their first set struggle, Van Sickle said, “The first set didn’t go as planned, but we stayed calm, stayed collected and stayed together. Mental focus was key, and it worked out.”
Praising her counterpart, who also impressed on defense with nine digs and 12 receptions, van Sickle said: “She (Davison) is a phenomenal player, I couldn’t even stop some of her hits.”
Despite Davison's brilliance, PLDT lacked solid support, with Fiola Ceballos and Erika Santos managing just eight points apiece and Majoy Baron adding five after a promising start on her birthday.
Petro Gazz, meanwhile, showcased depth, with Jonah Sabete contributing 17 points and Remy Palma and Joy Dacoron adding eight and six markers, respectively. The Angels also dominated in spiking (62-50) and neutralized PLDT's blocking – a league-leading strength – holding them to just three blocks compared to their own nine.
Despite committing 25 unforced errors and yielding free points, the Angels’ offensive prowess and team effort more than compensated for their miscues, a stark contrast to PLDT’s inability to capitalize on errors.
Looking ahead to their clash with the HD Spikers, Van Sickle emphasized the need for recovery after a grueling stretch of matches.
“Today was a good day. Tomorrow, we’ve got to move on, start watching films, and focus on recovering our bodies.”
Meanwhile, PLDT, which dropped to 3-2, faces a challenging path ahead as its aim to recover from back-to-back losses. The team, however, will have over a month to regroup and recharge before resuming their campaign against the Akari Chargers on Jan. 18, 2025.
Petro Gazz shifted the momentum of the match following an exchange of lopsided wins in the first two sets, edging out PLDT in a thrilling third set with Chie Saet’s masterful playmaking and Pablo’s fiery offense leading the charge.
The two seasoned players delivered crucial points during the closing stretch, with their efforts providing the Angels a two-point cushion. Pablo’s clutch play brought Petro Gazz to set point, and after PLDT failed to convert a strong play following a timeout, van Sickle sealed the frame with a powerful kill, putting the Angels just one set away from securing another victory in a match characterized by sporadic challenges from both sides.
Building on their momentum from a dominant second set, the Angels maintained their edge, winning the spiking battle 19-14 in the pivotal third set. Although they gave away six points on unforced errors, they capitalized on five miscues from their opponents to further assert their control.
