Overtime

PETRO GAZZ WRAPS UP BATTLE AGAINST CHOCO MUCHO, FINISHES PVL OPEN CONFERENCE WITH BRONZE

Petro Gazz won a back-to-back two-game sweep over Choco Mucho in their best-of-three series for third place, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21 in game 2, at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Barra, Ilocos Norte bubble on Thursday afternoon.

/ 13 August 2021

Myla Pablo brought a magnificent performance with her 16 points, combined with Grethcel Soltones’ seven markers, and 12 excellent receptions, and guided by Chie Saet’s 15 excellent sets, 11 digs, and four points which brought victory.

On the other hand, Maddie Madayag was not in the venue, and other usual starters of Choco Mucho such as Kat Tolentino, Bea De Leon, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla did not get to play after the team’s simultaneous seven matches in eight days.

The early frame of the first set was not a usual gameplay of Petro Gazz as Choco Mucho got a lead of 4-1, and at an 8-5 lead still in favor of the Flying Titans.

At late midframe, Choco Mucho still had the upper hand, but the Angels rocked back and stretched forward to get a 20-all tie after Pablo’s back-to-back attack, and after a series of errors and miscues from Choco Mucho, Angels ended the opening set with a five-point lead.

In the second set, it seemed that the Angels adjusted their gameplay against the uncommon starters of Choco Mucho as they raced to get a lead of 12-3, and got confident to get an 18-9 advantage, and even though Choco Mucho tried to recover, the second set ended in favor of Angels with a seven-point lead after Soltones back-to-back points. 

Late into the third set, Choco Mucho head coach Almadro chose to let Ponggay Gaston and Deanna Wong hit up the match as they were at 11-18 lead.

Due to the adjustment, the Flying Titans were able to trim the deficit gap score to 20-23, but it was a little too late for them as Jerilli Malabanan attack gave the match point for Angels, and regardless of the following attack from Arianna Angustia, Pablo’s final kill secured the bronze medal.

“Worth it lahat ng sakripisyo and yung mga paghihirap ng mga players or as a team doon sa bubble training namin going here tapos yung one month talaga na nandito kami iba yung experience talaga, emotionally macha-challenge ka mentally,” said Petro Gazz coach Arnold Laniog.