The fallen Maddie Madayag gets attention from Choco Mucho staff. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
ILOCOS NORTE—Petro Gazz bounced back from a third set collapse on Wednesday to finish off Choco Mucho, as a 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20 victory put the gritty Angels within another win of salvaging third place in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference at PCV Socio Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra.
The Angels also pounced on an injury suffered by Maddie Madayag midway in the fourth, as they won 10 of the last 15 points, including the last five to cap their breakaway from a 15-all count on their way to the one-hour, 56-minute victory in the opener of the best-of-three series for the bronze.
Powerhouse Creamline and Chery Tiggo were playing Game 1 of their best-of-three title series at press time.
Petro Gazz, swept by Creamline in the Final Four, goes for the clincher on Thursday at 2 p.m. “This tournament is not about skills anymore but more on the mental game. It’s all about how we prepare as individuals and as a team,” said Petro Gazz coach Arnold Laniog.
Petro Gazz drew 26 points from Myla Pablo, who later clinched the game’s top honors, and 13 points from Gretchel Soltones.
The Angels also drew 11 hits from Ces Molina and 10 points from Ria Meneses.
Ponggay Gaston took the scoring cudgels for Choco Mucho with 18 points as Kat Tolentino groped for 10 hits. Caitlyn Viray added eight points. Madayag, Shannen Palec and Regine Arocha finished with six points apiece.
Choco Mucho, which repulsed Petro Gazz in four sets in the eliminations last Aug. 6, rebounded from 0-2 set down with a strong rally in the third and stayed in the match at 15-all in the fourth until Madayag took a bad landing and hurt her left knee.
The Ateneo ace in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines grimaced in pain and was in tears as she was taken out of the court in a wheelchair. Still, the Flying Titans kept the game close without their skipper and even led at 20-19 on a Gaston power hit.