Petro Gazz, the last team to secure a spot in the semifinals and the only one to survive a sudden-death match, now stands on the brink of becoming the first team to reach the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Finals.
The Angels pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in a crucial Set 4 duel, rallying from a 15-21 deficit to steal the set from a visibly stunned Choco Mucho side in a tense endgame marked by an inconclusive challenge that only added to the drama.
Petro Gazz had even blown three match points after leading 24-22, but Myla Pablo came through in the clutch. Despite a shaky low set from Djanel Cheng, she blasted a contested kill point and followed it up with a clever power tip after a frenetic exchange.
In the end, composure and poise prevailed over firepower and defense.
Petro Gazz triumphed 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 27-25 after two hours and 23 minutes of intense action at the Philsports Arena in Pasig with the victory all but securing the Angels a Finals berth with a 2-0 record.
In contrast, Choco Mucho’s 0-2 mark dealt a severe blow to the Flying Titans hopes. But a triple tie at 2-1 is still possible, however, if the Akari Chargers defeat the Angels and the Cool Smashers beat the Flying Titans tomorrow (Thursday).
With Choco Mucho looking poised for a fifth-set scenario after pulling ahead 21-15 in the fourth, Petro Gazz battled back with an astonishing 8-0 run. The Angels then survived a last-ditch effort by the Flying Titans to emerge victorious once more.
It was a repeat of Petro Gazz’s stunning victory over the Creamline Cool Smashers in their Final Four opener last Saturday, as they once again executed their winning formula. Meanwhile, the defeat was a painful déjà vu for the Flying Titans, echoing their late-game collapse in a five-set heartbreaker against the Chargers.
Chie Saet orchestrated another brilliant playmaking performance, activating the Angels' wing spikers and middle blockers to outplay their opponents after a hard-fought first set that could have gone either way. However, it was reliever setter Djanel Cheng who stole the show in the clutch.
Her back-to-back aces capped the run that erased a six-point deficit, and Cheng’s decision to set up Pablo proved to be the game-winning move.
Cheng and Pablo’s heroics also alleviated the Angels’ frustration after an inconclusive referee’s challenge on a ball-in/ball-out call that could have clinched the match. Despite the video review being inconclusive, the original call giving the point to Choco Mucho stood, but the Angels ultimately prevailed.
“We just stayed together, stayed calm and remained patient,” said Brooke Van Sickle, reflecting on their incredible fourth-set comeback. “Choco Mucho did a fantastic job. It’s tough to score and perform at such a high level against them.”
Regarding the lengthy delay caused by the contentious challenge late in the set, she added, “We just prepared for the worst and kept our mindset up.”
“It is what it is, and we’re happy we stayed focused,” said Van Sickle, who earned another Best Player of the Game award after delivering 17 points, along with 22 excellent receptions and 12 digs.
Pablo finished with 13 points, while MJ Phillips delivered another strong performance with 14 markers. Jonah Sabete, Aiza Pontillas and Ranya Musa provided solid support, contributing nine, eight and seven points, respectively.
On the other side, Sisi Rondina dazzled with a stellar 25-point outing, but her efforts once again fell short. Isa Molde added 12 markers, while Cherry Nunag and Royse Tubino chipped in with eight and six points, respectively.
Petro Gazz’s defense – both on the floor and at the net – was equally vital in keeping their offense flowing. They thwarted multiple Choco Mucho attacks, especially from Rondina, who struggled in the second and third sets as Phillips and Pablo provided key defensive stops.
The Angels pulled away from a tight third-set battle with a strong finishing surge, capitalizing on a series of Choco Mucho miscues. Van Sickle and Pablo anchored the attack, helping Petro Gazz to a commanding eight-point win.
