BATANGAS CITY — Petro Gazz endured some tense moments late in the third set before completing an emphatic sweep of listless Gerflor, 25-11, 25-4, 25-23, for their second straight win in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Center.
Nicole Tiamzon made the most of her first game in the season-ending conference, hammering down crucial hits including the game-clinching crosscourt kill to stop the Defenders’ desperate fightback and bring the Angels to a share of the top spot with idle Chery Tiggo.
Head coach Timmy Sto. Tomas was able to empty his bench as 10 Petro Gazz players chipped in on offense led by Marian Buitre and Tiamzon, who scored eight points each.
“I’m very happy with their performance because they showed how disciplined they were in how they played,” Sto. Tomas said.
Ranya Musa, who took over the spot of now Korea-based MJ Phillips, posted seven points while Grethcel Soltones had seven points, 14 digs and five excellent receptions for the Angels.
Remy Palma and Jonah Sabete added six points while Djanel Cheng dished out 11 excellent receptions and four points for Petro Gazz, which outgunned Gerflor on kills, 40-18, and only had 18 errors.
The Angels, runners-up in the first serving of the AFC early this year, easily took control of the match right from the opening serve and even looked ready for quick work following a dominating second set.
But Gerflor gave Petro Gazz a scare when it rallied to tie the third frame to 22. Buitre put the Angels in front of a won challenge from a crosscourt hit before Tiamzon punched in another cross to push the team at match point.
