Petro Gazz Angels’ veteran Chie Saet during Game 3 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Eager to leave a legacy, veteran setter Chie Saet helped revive Petro Gazz Angels’ title bid in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference after losing Game 1 to ZUS Coffee in their best-of-three quarterfinals.
Saet was the difference-maker as started in Game 2 and delivered the goods in the rubber match to help Petro Gazz catch the last bus ride to the semifinals with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-23 win over ZUS Coffee on Tuesday evening at Philsports Arena.
READ: PVL: Petro Gazz ousts ZUS Coffee to complete semifinals cast
With their season on the line, the 40-year-old playmaker dished out 20 excellent sets and scored five points including two aces as the Angels joined defending champion Creamline, Choco Mucho, and Akari in another round-robin, where the top two advance to the finals.
Saet refused to give up after falling to the brink of elimination when they got swept in Game 1 last week.
“As the older player, this is the only conference left where we don’t have a championship. So, I really want us to win this All-Filipino Conference,” said Saet in Filipino. “I also want my teammates to remember me because I’ll be retiring soon. I want to give my best in every game and keep reminding everyone that we need to push. We’ve come this far, so now’s not the time to stop.”
Petro Gazz Angels’ veteran Chie Saet during Game 3 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The Petro Gazz lifer kept her team together after their 10-game winning streak was snapped to start the quarterfinals by the young Thunderbelles — the second team to beat them this conference after Creamline’s opening day win.
“We had a talk, and we also discussed things the next day. We realized we had forgotten a lot, especially about who we were as a team. We started slow in that first game, and we were waiting for the other team to fight back,” Saet said.
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“But we were surprised when they came at us hard, and that was the consequence of not being ready. So for the next games, we agreed we wouldn’t let that happen again because we don’t want to feel that heartbreak again.”
Coming off the bench in most of their games, Saet shone stuck to the system just like what Djanel Cheng has been doing for the team.
“Honestly, as much as I want to set up everyone, sometimes I need to focus on the high-percentage players. That’s the advice from Coach—go with the players who have a higher chance of scoring, like Brooke [Van Sickle],” Saet said.
“Coach also doesn’t want long rallies since they’re a younger team, and it’s easier for us to get tired. It’s not about being weaker, but they’re younger and have more endurance, while us older players have the experience, so we rely on our high-percentage spiker.”
Petro Gazz opens its semifinals round-robin against defending champion Creamline on Saturday at Ynares Center Antipolo.