PVL: Myla Pablo says Petro Gazz lacked aggressiveness in loss

Petro Gazz Angels’ Myla Pablo during Game 1 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals against ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Myla Pablo admitted Petro Gazz couldn’t match the aggressiveness that the No.7 ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles showed as the Angels fell on the brink of elimination a in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

From winning 10 straight games, the No.2 Petro Gazz is suddenly on the verge of missing the semifinals after absorbing a stunning 21-25, 23-25, 25-27 loss to ZUS Coffee, the survivor of the play-in, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night at Philsports Arena.

READ: PVL quarterfinals: ZUS Coffee stuns Petro Gazz to take Game 1

Pablo, who was blocked by Jovelyn Gonzaga to end the extended third set, credited the one-year-old club for proving that it’s anybody’s game in their best-of-three series.

In contrast, Pablo said, the Angels lacked the same aggressiveness.

“We weren’t there in the first and second sets. In the third set, we thought we could pull it off, but ZUS fought back. Their defense and movement were really on point. I think what we were lacking was our aggressiveness on the court,” said Pablo in Filipino after scoring 14 points.

Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals against ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Pablo and the Angels had a lengthy meeting after the loss as they need to win two consecutive games to enter the semifinals.

“For the next game on Saturday, we need to focus on what went wrong in this game. We’ll work on it in training, starting tomorrow. We still have three days to prepare for Game 2, and we really need to help each other as players,” said Pablo.

HIGHLIGHTS:  PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals – March 18

“I mentioned earlier that in the first set, it took us too long to get warmed up. We were making it harder on ourselves by always trying to catch up.”

Petro Gazz, which was led by Brooke Van Sickle’s game of 18 points, 13 digs, and 11 excellent receptions, was outplayed by the frontline of ZUS Coffee after the latter tallied 11 kill blocks.

When the Angeles fight to equalize the series in Game 2 at Ynares Center Antipolo, Pablo stressed the importance of starting strong.

“In Game 2, we really need to take the initiative. We can’t be the ones playing catch-up because when we’re behind, we feel the pressure. ZUS won Game 1, so it’s normal for them to be confident, but for us, in Game 2, we need to push hard to win,” said the former league MVP.

“At least if we win Game 2, we still have a chance for Game 3, so being in a best-of-three series is really important in the quarterfinals.”