PVL: Petro Gazz stuns Cignal to force decider for finals spot

Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL Open Conference semifinals. PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Petro Gazz edged Cignal, 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 26-24, 18-16, in a long battle of the nerves to stay alive in their Premier Volleyball League Open Conference semifinal duel Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Setter Chie Saet connected on a 1-2 play before Myla Pablo fired off the block to allow the Angels to level the best-of-three series and forge a deciding Game 3 on Monday.

Erstwhile unbeaten Cignal held the match point, 14-12, but PetroGazz, through Grethcel Soltones, Aiza Pontillas and Remy Palma, kept coming back in the match that lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

WATCH: Myla Pablo drops the game-winner as Petro Gazz forces a winner-take-all match against Cignal tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/U2qhFPimrM

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“We just talked as a team and did what the coaches told us,” said Pablo who scored 18 points after a lackluster performance in Game 1. “We just want to fight until the end.”

The Angels had earlier stared at the HD Cignal’s match-point in the fourth, 24-23, before Pablo fired two of their last three points to extend the match.

“I don’t think we still have time to train but we must address our mistake from the first two games,” said Pablo.

Soltones finished 14 points including a cluster of winners in the fourth set when Cignal was beginning to pull away.