PVL: Oliver Almadro rues grueling stretch as weary Petro Gazz bows out

FILE – Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro huddles up his players during a game in the PVL Invitational Conference. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro said exhaustion got the better of his team after losing their third straight game this week and bombing out of the semifinal race in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.

The Angels willed their way back from a two-set deficit and forced a decider but still fell short to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 22-25. 15-25, 25-22, 25-18, 10-15, in their pivotal Pool B game before 8,214 fans at Philsports Arena on Saturday.

The loss relegated Petro Gazz to the classification round as it finished the pool phase with a 3-2 record, behind the three-way tie between Cignal, Choco Mucho, and F2 Logistics, who hold identical 3-1 cards and will fight for the two semis berths in Pool B.

“Our schedule was at a disadvantage. We had three games in a row. We’re the only team which played three games in a row, so I guess that, and coming from a five-set [game last Thursday] … Anyway, those are things we cannot control,” said Almadro after the five-set loss to his former team. “The exhaustion got us. But I really commend my players also, down 2-0, we managed to go up. In the end, I guess yung pagod and everything, nag-matter na.”

“There are a lot of factors that are out of our control like the schedule, the points in standings. But the results are not always better than the performance. I really believe my players performed well until the end,” he added.

Almadro still lauded his former team, which was led by Sisi Rondina, after prevailing in their pivotal match.

“Of course, we cannot count out Choco Mucho, they prepared well, and especially, they had Sisi Rondina. That’s their go-to girl. I guess, they really deserve this win because of their manpower, their roster,” he said. “I believe my players performed very well. A few points that really matter made the difference in the game.”

The Angels dropped their opening game against the HD Spikers but won three straight games including the first defeat of the Cargo Movers last Thursday only to miss the opportunity to seal one of the two semifinal tickets in Pool B.

Petro Gazz, the Reinforced Conference champion and All-Filipino finalist, will miss the semifinal round of the Invitationals for the second straight time after it suddenly missed MJ Phillips, who had to fly to South Korea to join her new club team.

But Almadro still praised his middle blockers Des Clemente and rookie KC Galdones for stepping up as well as the rest of the team

“Missing MJ was also a huge factor. If MJ could’ve been here, that will be big for us. We will just find a way and make good with what we have. Des [Clemente] and KC Galdones shared the spot and played well in this match and our previous games so I’m really happy with the team,” the Petro Gazz coach said. 

“There will come to a point that you will fall short but I’m really happy with how they performed, especially Nicole Tiamzon in this conference, she stepped up. Jonah Sabete matured and Grethcel had a very good conference. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Djanel Cheng also played well coming from the national team and the veteran Chie Saet during this game and our last game with F2 really showed that she’s really in her form,” he added.

Petro Gazz will see action in the classification round with fellow eliminated teams Foton, Akari, and Gerflor starting on Thursday.

“We don’t have any chance of bouncing back but hopefully, we can bounce back next conference,” said Almadro. “Like I told my players, they have to be better than their best every day.”

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