ANGELS SUSTAIN SURGE WITH NEW IMPORT, CLIP ORAGONS
PETROGAZZ shook off a tough second set stand by Iriga- Navy and carved out a 25- 22, 30- 28, 25- 13 victory yesterday to sustain its surge from a three- game spell and back into contention in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan on Saturday.
Ukrainian Olena LymarevaFlink took over from injured Kadi Kullerkann ( knee) and debuted with an impressive 16- hit game, including 12 attack points and four service aces. She also produced 14 digs for the Angels, who scored a follow- up to their five- set triumph over BanKo- Perlas last week.
“I’m happy with the win but we need more practice,” said PetroGazz coach Jerry Yee. “We have a new import who could also play defense. Hopefully we could work on it more to build momentum.”
With back- to- back wins, the Angels are certainly back on track after losing to Creamline, Tacloban and BaliPure although it hardly moved to sixth place with two games left in the single round elims of the season- opening conference organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics.
The loss was the Lady Oragons’ straight after shocking the BaliPure Water Defenders.
Cherry Nunag scored nine points while Anastasiia Track, also of Ukraine, added eight with 12 excellent receptions and 10 digs for the Angels, who will face the Pocari- Air Force Lady Warriors next on Wednesday.
American duo Lauren Whyte and Macy Ubben combined for 31 points but the Lady Oragons continued to miss the locals support with six players putting up no more than three markers.
Earlier, in men’s play, PLDT thumped Army, 25- 15, 25- 10, 25- 23, to notch its second straight win for a 2- 2 card while dealing the Troopers their third loss against a lone win.
Meanwhile, the league motors back to Batangas City today featuring joint leader Creamline against Tacloban at 2 p. m. and co- leader BaliPure versus defending champion Pocari- Air Force at 4 p. m. at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.
The league had previously held weekend games in Batangas last week watched by huge crowds after the successful Tuguegarao sortie two weeks ago with another pair of explosive matches on tap today due to strong public clamor to hold PVL games in the south.
Meanwhile, Air Force and Cignal clash in the lone men’s duel at 10 a. m. which can be viewed via streaming on www. sports. abs- cbn. com/ livestream. The women’s matches, on the other hand, will be aired live on ABS- CBN Sports+ Action Channel 23, ABS- CBN S+ A HD Channel 166, LIGA on SkyCable Channel 86, LIGA HD on SkyCable Channel 183 and via streaming.