Petro Gazz Angels. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz booted Chery Tiggo out of finals contention, 25-15, 25-17, 25-13, and kept its title-retention bid alive in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Angels banked on the troika of Lindsey Vander Weide, Myla Pablo, and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas to improve to a 1-1 record, tying the Creamline Cool Smashers in the second seed.
Vander Weide unleashed a game-high 18 points, firing 14 attacks and four service aces to eliminate the Crossovers in just 80 minutes.
Pablo poured in 15 points built on 11 spikes and four blocks, while Pontillas fired five of the team’s 10 aces to finish with 11 markers before playing another must-win match against unbeaten Cignal (2-0) on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
MJ Phillips anchored Petro Gazz’s defense, accounting for four of her team’s blocks to end up with eight points.
“We were more focused on our task at hand today. Because we needed this win. But my players didn’t play without pressure. They enjoyed the game and the roles for each one were clear,” said Petro Gazz coach Rald Ricafort in Filipino.
The Angels dominated the Crossovers in each set, especially in the third where they led by as many as 13, 22-9, after Vander Weide’s three consecutive points.
Mylene Paat was the lone double-digit scorer for Chery Tiggo with 10 points and seven digs, while Dindin Santiago-Manabat had eight markers as import Jelena Cvijovic only scored one point only playing in the first set.
The Crossovers, who remained winless in two games, try to end the semis round with a win against the Cool Smashers as they will be relegated in the battle for bronze.