PVL: Angels, High Speed Hitters in KO tussle for Finals berth

PLDT High Speed Hitters vs Petro Gazz Angels in a PVL All-Filipino Cup semifinals game. –PVL PHOTO

Oliver Almadro has gotten over his Petro Gazz’s Game 2 loss to PLDT and is ready to move on—and conquer.

“I know my players will bounce back. I know they acknowledged and accepted what happened,” Almadro said on the eve of his Angels’ do-or-die clash with the High Speed Hitters for the second finals seat in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I just told them to accept and acknowledge what happened and then take the next step again and move forward,” he said.

Waiting in the wings for the winner of the 5 p.m. match is powerhouse defending champion Creamline, which swept F2 and is ready to start working on another shot at a Grand Slam.

Petro Gazz looked headed to forging a third title showdown with the crowd favorite Cool Smashers after repulsing PLDT, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18, in their series opener.

The Angels also took the first set of Game 2, but the High Speed Hitters pulled through in a pulsating second set endgame battle then dominated the next two to fashion out a 14-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-15 victory and force a sudden death.

“We had a strong start. We waited. Everybody waited,” Almadro said. “Our character was challenged. Our ego was challenged. Our skills were challenged. We accepted it and we look forward to Game 3 with a positive mindset.”