PVL: Petro Gazz outshines Farm Fresh for third straight win

Brooke Van Sickle and Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHTO

MANILA, Philippines–Petro Gazz continued its rise through the ranks of the PVL All-Filipino Conference after halting Farm Fresh on its tracks, 25-21, 27-25, 25-19, on Thursday at PhilSports Arena.

Brooke van Sickle delivered yet another emphatic performance, leading the Angels with 26 points from 20 attacks, three blocks and three aces as Petro Gazz logged its third consecutive win since losing in five sets to Choco Mucho.

“It was not an easy game, I understand. I said to the players before the game, don’t be off guard,” Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara said.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

After easily taking care of business in the opening frame, Petro Gazz had a scare from Farm Fresh which led for the majority of the second set.

Chinnie Arroyo and Rizza Cruz built a comfortable advantage for Farm Fresh, 15-20, in the second frame before Caitlin Viray had back to back errors that narrowed the Foxies’ advantage to just two.

Van Sickle and Michelle Morente helped the Angels steal that set from the Foxies while team captain Remy Palma capped a long rally with a placement attack from the middle that leveled the score at 24-all.

READ: PVL: Van Sickle, Sabete seek consistency after leading Petro Gazz win

Jonah Sabete tied the game again at 25-all before Chinnie Arroyo committed an error and Van Sickle nailed the set point, giving Petro Gazz a 2-0 set advantage.

Sabete provided support for Van Sickle, who laced her offense with nine excellent digs, with 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks.

“For me, [our performance was] not too good. Ang laki ng tiwala ni coach, pero sobrang bagal ng start ko. Sabi niya nung third set, ‘You can [play]?’ Inako ko na, ‘I can!’” Sabete, who earned the player of the game honors, said.

“Medyo nakukulangan lang sa sarili ko, lalong-lalo na yung teamwork namin, masyadong tagilid nung first set,” she added

Petro Gazz didn’t want to prolong the match, rushing to an 12-5 start in the deciding frame before the Foxies middle blockers chipped the gap to just four.

Farm Fresh called on rookie hitter Ypril Tapia to try and salvage the final frame scoring her three points in that stretch, 24-19, before a game-deciding service error by the former University of Santo Tomas standout ended the match.

Cruz paced Farm Fresh, which was coming off an upset of Chery Tiggo, with her team-high 11 points, mostly from attacks, with Trisha Tubu having a quiet outing of just eight points.

Petro Gazz will have a long time to prepare for its meeting with the Crossovers on March 21 at Smart Araneta Coliseum while the Foxies will look to continue its best start against PLDT on March 23.