PVL: PayMaya captures semis spot, downs PetroGazz

PayMaya earned an outright spot in the semifinals after brushing off PetroGazz, 27-25, 25-23, 25-17, in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The High Flyers tallied a 4-2 record and owns a higher quotient score than Pocari-Sweat Air Force in case there’s a tie in the standings.

Tess Rountree had 19 points to lead the High Flyers while Grethcel Soltones added 12.

PayMaya head coach Roger Gorayeb praised his local players for keeping up with his two foreign reinforcements, Rountree and Shellby Sullivan, as they now wait for whoever they’re set to face in the semifinals.

“This is way better than when only my two imports are the only players who would produce,” said Gorayeb in Filipino. “The locals played great, Grethcel’s slowly getting her rhythm back.”

“Well, there are pros and cons with this early entry because we will wait for a longer time before we get to play again. What’s important, though, is we’re in the semifinal and we’ll just wait.”

Jerrili Malabanan, who played for just one set, and Aiko Urdas had stable contributions for the High Flyers with eight and six points, respectively.

Olena Lymareva-Flink had 15 points to lead the 3-4 Angels, who saw their three-game winning streak get snapped, while Anastasiia Trach added 14.