ANGELS ON FIRE
Petro Gazz bounces back, rips Capital1
Stung by a five-set loss to Chery Tiggo the last time, Petro Gazz vented its ire on hapless Capital1 for a 25-11, 25-19, 25-14 win Tuesday as the race for semifinal slots heats up in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
With Brooke Van Sickle leading the assault, the Angels overpowered the Solar Spikers in a display of firepower, teamwork and experience so evident throughout the 72-minute match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Petro Gazz zoomed ahead in the opening set with 16 attack points compared to Capital1’s measly three, setting the tone for their lopsided victory.
The Angels kept their superiority at the net, posting seven blocks to their opponents’ two, and capitalizing on the Solar Spikers’ shaky reception, firing nine aces while conceding only two.
Despite a valiant effort from Capital1 in the second set, Petro Gazz regrouped effectively, delivering telling blows to mess up its opponents’ momentum before re-asserting its dominance in the third set.
The victory raised Petro Gazz’s record to 5-2, staying within striking distance of joint leaders Creamline, Choco Mucho and PLDT, which all tote 5-1 slates.
After the Holy Week break, action resumes on 2 April with PLDT battling Akari and Choco Mucho colliding with Galeries Tower, also at the Pasig arena.
“It’s good to get a win coming off a loss, I’m really proud of my team for being able to bounce back the way we did,” said Van Sickle, who starred for Petro Gazz with 19 points, including 15 kills spiked by an impressive 58 percent attacking efficiency.
She emphasized the team effort, acknowledging her teammates’ contributions. Van Sickle also commended their collective performance, recognizing the role of each player in securing the victory.
“I thought everyone did such a fantastic job,” she added.
Although facing a less experienced opponent, Petro Gazz remained focused and avoided taking Capital1 for granted.
“It doesn’t matter who the other team is. Capital1 is a very scrappy team. But as long as we stay focused, we can get things done,” Van Sickle said.
Jonah Sabete scored nine points while Remy Palma added seven points and Kecelyn Galdones and setter Ivy Perez matched six-point outputs in the victory.
Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara also drew a combined 13 points from five other players, including four from Myla Pablo, ensuring a balanced scoring effort while providing necessary guidance during crucial stretches in the match.
The Solar Spikers fell to 1-6 with Lourdes Clemente top-scoring with six points, Heather Guino-o finishing with five points, and Janeca Lana and Sydney Niegos adding four points apiece.
‘It doesn’t matter who the other team is. Capital1 is a very scrappy team. But as long as we stay focused, we can get things done.’