Dropping a tightly contested opening set seemed to awaken the sleeping giant in Petro Gazz.

After letting a winnable first frame slip away, the Angels roared back with purpose and composure, dismantling the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the next three sets to fashion out a decisive 25-27, 25-13, 25-10, 25-13 victory in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal on Saturday night.

The one-hour, 47-minute victory marked the Angels’ fourth win against three losses, securing the two-time Reinforced Conference champions’ spot in the knockout quarterfinals, alongside the Akari Chargers and the Cignal Super Spikers, who also hold 4-3 slates.

Despite the defeat, the Solar Spikers also advanced to the postseason as the No. 8 seed with a 3-4 record.

Petro Gazz’s comeback win mirrored PLDT’s earlier triumph over Chery Tiggo, where the High Speed Hitters likewise shrugged off a first-set setback and stormed back to sweep the next three frames in emphatic fashion.

“We just kept talking to each other – communication is a big part – and we focused on taking it one point at a time,” said MJ Phillips, reflecting on the team’s steadfast belief in their ability to recover from the late slip in the opening set.

Phillips finished with 19 points, earning the Best Player of the Game award. Lindsey Vander Weide and Brooke Van Sickle powered the Angels’ offense with 22 and 21 points, respectively, while Ranya Musa contributed six points.

Jonah Sabete and setter Jules Tolentino added four and three markers each. Tolentino also stood out with 27 precise sets, orchestrating the offense efficiently, while Van Sickle and Vander Weide showcased their defensive prowess with 12 excellent digs and 11 receptions, respectively.

On the other side, Bella Belen continued to display her offensive firepower with 18 points, and import Sasha Bytsenko chipped in 17. However, the duo struggled to find consistent support from their teammates, as Pia Abbu emerged as the next highest scorer with just four points.

Petro Gazz dominated offensively, out-attacking Capital1 63-42, and edged their opponents at the net with nine blocks – three more than the Solar Spikers. They also served aggressively, finishing with five aces while limiting themselves to just one error.

The Angels capitalized on their rivals’ inconsistencies and unforced errors, converting 23 free points while committing only 14 mistakes of their own, further tilting the match in their favor.

What followed Petro Gazz’s narrow Set 1 defeat was nothing short of an assertion. The Angels stormed into Set 2 with renewed intensity, overwhelming Capital1 with crisp execution and significantly better floor coverage. Their commanding second-set win reset the momentum of the match entirely, setting the stage for an even more dominant third set.

In Set 3, Petro Gazz showcased its most ruthless stretch of the night, surging to a 20-6 advantage behind the troika of Aiza Maizo, Vander Weide and Musa. Even when the Solar Spikers managed a brief three-point run, cracks reappeared as Shola Alvarez committed a service error, allowing the Angels to resume their onslaught unfazed.

The fourth set became yet another display of the Angels’ revitalized offense. Vander Weide continued to torch the floor, while Phillips and Van Sickle added their own heavy hits to fuel an early 11-4 Petro Gazz advantage. Capital1, meanwhile, struggled to keep up with the pace and unpredictability of the Angels’ offense, often caught a step late on coverage and blocking.

A well-timed Musa-Sabete wall on Belen punctuated Petro Gazz’s mid-set surge, and a pair of Solar Spikers errors widened the gap to 16-6. With their confidence rebuilt and rhythm fully restored, the Angels maintained complete control the rest of the way – cruising to the finish and sending a resounding reminder that they remain a formidable force in this import-laced tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by ICTSI, Milcu, Mikasa and Fabriano.

Buoyed by the emphatic victory, Petro Gazz now sets its sights on a crucial showdown with the High Speed Hitters on Thursday, hoping to ride this surge of momentum straight into the quarterfinals.