Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL All-Filipino Conference in Batangas. –PVL PHOTO
The connection between Djanel Cheng and Remy Palma was seamless as Petro Gazz slowly picked apart a hapless Gerflor in the first set.
In the second set, the Angels were even more relentless, scoring 15 of the first 17 points there. And the Defenders never looked more lost. At one point, Gerflor picked up a Nicole TImazon serve to the back row, but nobody else did anything with reception, providing Petro Gazz with an ace.
By the time the Defenders found their fight, it was too late. Reserves Tiamzon and Marian Buitre mopped off the fledgling squad and the Angels roared to a 25-11, 25-4, 25-23 triumph in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday in front of a roaring crowd at Batangas City Sports Center.
“I think I’ll give credit to the girls because we saw their hard work and perseverance inside the court. Even though we had long rallies in that set, we were able to get great points. I’m also happy with our service as we made it hard for Gerflor to receive,” said new coach Timmy Sto. Tomas after holding the Defenders to a 14-of-61 reception rate.
Tiamzon and Buitre showed the way for Petro Gazz with eight points each, despite sitting out the first set, as Sto. Tomas had the luxury of dipping into his bench after running rings around the scattered Defenders.
“I’m so lucky and blessed with these girls because they know their roles and their respective jobs. Whoever checks in will deliver,” said Sto. Tomas.
Chie Saet, subbing for Cheng in the second set, engineered a breakaway in the second set. Saet, however, served long late in the match, pegging the count at 21-4; it was a crucial point that kept Gerflor out of a dubious spot in league history. Gerflor’s fourth point in the second set prevented the team from falling into a tie with defunct BaliPure for the lowest set output in the league at three points.