Petro Gazz fought back from a four-set setback to Cignal the first time out with a four-set win over a debuting Foton side, grinding out a tough 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20 victory late Thursday to wheel back into semis contention in Group B play in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference.
In a match that was close throughout, the Angels didn’t blink even after they were forced to 10 deadlocks in the fourth frame, never yielding the lead before putting their act together one last time to build a 20-16 cushion.
Veteran Nene Bautista stalled them with a kill block and the Tornadoes pulled within two on a Petro Gazz long attack but Aiza Pontillas blasted in a hit and the Angels outscored their rivals, 4-2, in the stretch to claim the victory on a Remy Palma ace.
With a 1-1 card, Petro Gazz remained behind Cignal, Choco Mucho, and F2 Logistics, all with 1-0 slates, heading to the long break after tomorrow’s all-important triple-bill.
Four Angels turned in double-digit outputs to underscore the team’s balanced scoring with Grethcel Soltones leading the assault with 17 points after a 22-hit game in a losing stand to the HD Spikers last Tuesday. Jonah Sabete put in a 15-point outing after scoring 21 points while Pontillas and Palma backed them up with 13 points apiece.
Shaya Adorador, who moved from Foton’s sister team Chery Tiggo, fired 17 points while Jasmine Nabor and Bautista each scored 10 points and May Luna, Jaila Atienza, Mary Dapol and Seth Rodriguez combined for 26 points for the Tornadoes, who nevertheless showed they can be a force to reckon with in the mid-season conference.
