Angels gain semis passage
Games tomorrow (Filoil EcoOil Center) 4 p.m. – F2 vs Army Black Mamba / 6:30 p.m. – Cignal vs PLDT
Petro Gazz recovered from a third-set slip and repulsed Akari, 25-15, 25-19, 22-25, 2516, yesterday to secure a semifinal entry in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.
A set away from a swift three-set win, the Angels faltered and left an opening for the Chargers to launch a spirited offensive and eventually snatch the set.
But Petro Gazz regained its poise and pounded Akari into submission in sealing its fifth win in seven outings – good for a share of second with F2 Logistics.
The Angels are now sure of a semis entry even if they drop their last game to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers next Tuesday in Iloilo City as they have amassed superior tiebreak points over the other semis contenders.
The result sent Akari packing with a 2-5 winloss mark.
Grethcel Soltones presided over the attack as she uncorked a match-best 20 points including 16 spikes.
“It was a team effort,” said Soltones, a former NCAA and V-League MVP.
The Chargers were in utter disarray in the first two sets but summoned enough will in the third to snatch a set behind Erika Raagas’ 19-hit masterpiece.
But it was a short-lived resistance nipped in the bud by Soltones and the Angels, who went back on their attacking game to seal the deal.
In the night cap, Chery Tiggo banked on the 25-point effort of Mylene Paat as it downed Choco Mucho, 25-21, 25-19, 25-19, to remain in the semis race with a 4-3 slate.
The Flying Titans were booted out with a fifth loss against two wins.