Two-time Reinforced Conference champion Petro Gazz survived a big second set scare and held off a rallying Galeries Tower side in the third as the Angels demolished the debuting Highrisers, 25-11, 26-24, 25-22 in the nightcap of another three-game bill in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum late last night.
After giving the Highrisers a rude welcome in the opening frame, the Angels turned a little bit complacent in the next which the former took advantage of, enabling them to keep it close and extend the set. But the latter, the losing finalist in this year’s first conference, also the All-Filipino, regrouped and re-asserted their might over one of the league’s two newcomers.
It resulted in an expected straight-set win as the Angels joined Nxled, Cignal, Creamline, Chery Tiggo and a surprising Akari side in the early lead in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Timmy Sto. Tomas likewise marked his first stint as Petro Gazz head coach with a victory although he still needed to push his seasoned players to press on at the end of the third and finally take the fight out of the Highrisers, who threatened last at 20-23.
“Sabi ni coach, simplehan na lang at wag na namin pahirapan pa ang mga sarili namin,” said Grethcel Soltones, who led the Petro Gazz assault with 19 points, including a block touch that ended the one-hour, 34-minute encounter.
Marian Buitre foiled Audrey Paran’s attack to move the Angels to match point and after the latter countered with a kill to stall the Angels, Soltones soared for a kill that went wide but touched the hand of one of the Highrisers’ defenders.
Aiza Pontillas backed Soltones with 10 markers while Kecelyn Galdones and Jonah Sabete put in seven points apiece and Djanel Cheng and Ranya Musa combined for nine points for the Angels, who overwhelmed the Highrisers in blocks, 10-1.
No Highriser scored in double figures with Paran finishing with eight points although Mary Anne Esguerra, Norielle Ipac and Joy Doromal matched seven-point outputs.