PetroGazz Angels in the PVL Open Conference. PVL MEDIA BUREAU
MANILA, Philippines–PetroGazz did not have to pull all its high-caliber weapon off the shelf in blasting BaliPure, 25-14, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, Thursday to put its campaign on a cracking start in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Paco Arena in Manila.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Remy Palma, Nicole Tiamzon and Grethcel Soltones did the heavy lifting for the Angels who moved almost seamlessly through the baton of veteran setter Chie Saet.
Last conference’s bronze medalist, PetroGazz only felt the need to field top player Myla Pablo midway through the second set. The powerful open hitter scored her first point for as the Angels took the upper hand, 17-16 in the frame.
It wasn’t a big start for PetroGazz which needed a 10-0 run in the first set. The set ended with the Angels out-scoring the Water Defenders (14-8).
The same thing went in the second set, this time the Angels tried to stymie BaliPure’s scorers Marian Buitre and Janine Marciano by the net en route to a five kill-blocks against none in the frame.
But BaliPure had a different plan, employing Flora Bern to throw off PetroGazz’s defense and steal the third frame despite a late-set burst by the Angels.
That’s until PetroGazz stepped on the gas with Soltones hammering two aces. The three-time NCAA MVP finished with 11 points including five from the service line.