Angels crank semis drive; Flying Titans stake streak

Seth Rodriguez scores for Petro Gazz. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ILOCOS NORTE—Petro Gazz survived BaliPure, using new play combinations it hopes to also use later on, as a 25-20, 26-24, 25-23 victory on Tuesday kept the Angels well inside the circle of top four teams that will advance to the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Bacarra.

Gretchel Soltones scored 14 points built on nine attacks, with the last two wrapping up the one-hour, 20-minute encounter that hiked the Angels’ mark to 5-2 to tie Chery Tiggo at third spot, just half-a-game behind second-running Creamline.

The loss was the fifth in seven games for the Water Defenders, who kissed their playoff aspirations goodbye.

Choco Mucho, meanwhile, stakes its unbeaten slate as it shoots for a seventh straight win and the first berth in the semiflnals in its clash with sister team Creamline at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Chery Tiggo, on the other hand, faces Army in the 3 p.m. opener with the Crossovers seeking for a win and at least a playoff for the last Final Four slot against the Lady Troopers who cannot afford another loss.

BaliPure actually won the spiking duel, 38-31, and had more blocks, 10-8. But the Water Defenders struggled on the receiving end, allowing the Angels to score nine aces. BaliPure also yielded 29 unforced errors against Petro Gazz’s 17.

Ria Meneses backed Soltones with eight points, while Myla Pablo and Jerrill Malabanan chipped in seven apiece for the Angels, who will wrap up their elimination assignment against the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors on Thursday and the Flying Titans on Sunday.

“We took advantage of the opportunity to give the other players playing time for our starters to recover for the games ahead,” said Petro Gazz coach Arnold Laniog.