PetroGazz, Creamline too loaded for rivals

Complacency almost got the better of top teams PetroGazz and Creamline on Wednesday night but in the end, their unmatched offensive might bailed them out.

League-leader PetroGazz dropped its first set of the conference before muscling down BanKo Perlas, 25-23, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21, to remain unbeaten in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Cuban stalwart Wilma Salas hammered down 37 points to lead the Angels, who were caught napping after taking the first two frames. Fellow PetroGazz reinforcement Janisa Johnson added 24 points.

It was the sixth straight win for PetroGazz, which needs one more win to assure itself of a place in the Final Four. BanKo dropped to 2-4.

Almost the same thing happened earlier to Creamline, which had to scramble its import, Aleoscar Blanco, back to action during a topsy-turvy third set in a 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 victory over BaliPure.

But top player Alyssa Valdez and main setter Jia Morado brushed off the brief scare, saying they needed that kind of jolt to improve further.

“I believe we can still improve as a team and it’s good especially now that every team is leveling up,” said Valdez, who scored 16 points.

Morado had four markers and 19 excellent sets, distributing the ball to just about everybody coach Tai Bundit fielded inside the court.

“All of us get a chance in practice so I don’t have to make big adjustments in the game,” said Morado, referring to seldom-used players who got to play while Blanco got her much-needed rest.