Petro Gazz grinds past Chery Tiggo in reverse sweep

Petro Gazz Angels during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game against Chery Tiggo Crossovers. –PVL PHOTO

Petro Gazz pulled the rug from under Chery Tiggo with a 20-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 15-7 reversal in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Tuesday night at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The duo of Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Myla Pablo fueled the Angels in the come-from-behind victory with 18 points apiece for their fifth straight win to a 6-1 standing.

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“I appreciate the Chery Tiggo team. It was an exciting game,” coach Koji Tsuzurabara said. “On the first and second set, it’s not good communicate, my team. But the two in the middle, Joy [Dacoron] and Ranya [Musa], are the starting members of the three sets. So, they could change the atmosphere. They had a good performance.”

“The players made a stronger communication, it resulted in a win. I appreciate the players today … Everyone today, they should improve,” the Japanese mentor added.

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Petro Gazz Angels’ Myla Pablo during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game. –PVL PHOTO

Pontillas came up with 16 attacks, a block and an ace while Pablo nailed 15 kills and three blocks. Nicole Tiamzon contributed 11 points while Brooke van Sickle, who played limited minutes and played off the bench in the first four sets, still finished with 10 points, seven from the fifth frame along with 11 excellent digs.

Van Sickle had a minor procedure done on her left knee after Petro Gazz’s last game last year thus the precautionary measure.

Chie Saet activated Petro Gazz’s offense with 12 excellent sets while Jellie Tempiatura caught 20 excellent digs for a solo claim of the top spot. Ranya Musa returned after a long recovery from injury.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025

Chery Tiggo looked like it was in for an easy win before a sudden fight by Petro Gazz in the third frame from an 18-10 disadvantage as Maizo-Pontillas heated up in to shift the momentum to the Angels.

After a push and pull start in the fourth frame, Petro Gazz manufactured a 10-0 run to even the game at two set apiece. Pablo gave the Angels a five-point lead in the deciding frame as a 5-2 run capped by an anticlimactic service error by Ara Galang ended the affair.

Cza Carandang led the Crossovers with 13 points while Pauline Gaston and Jas Nabor, who played as wing spikers at some point, added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Nabor also dished out 14 excellent sets.

Jennifer Nierva finished with 21 excellent sets and 12 excellent receptions and Cess Robles 12 excellent digs apart from eight points as Chery Tiggo, which hasn’t suited up new cog Risa Sato yet, dropped to a 4-3 record.

Petro Gazz gets a long break before its next match against ZUS Coffee on Feb. 4 as Chery Tiggo looks to bounce back against Farm Fresh on Jan. 25, both at PhilSports Arena.