Petro Gazz firmed up its bid for a Top 3 pool finish with a hard-earned 29-27, 25-22, 19-25, 17-25, 15-11 decision over erstwhile unbeaten Akari, tightening up the already frenetic race in the prelims of the PVL Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Thursday night.
Sweeping the first two sets, the Angels looked ready to cruise to an easy win. But the Chargers, known for their five-set resilience, refused to fold – roaring back with back-to-back dominant sets to force yet another decider, their third straight five-setter of the conference.
This time, however, it was the two-time champions who displayed the steel and steadiness of a seasoned squad built for pressure. Petro Gazz leaned on its experience, composure and championship DNA to withstand Akari’s late charge and complete the gritty escape.
The Angels raced to a 7-3 lead in the sprint-like fifth set, fueled by Akari’s early attack errors and timely hits from Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo. But as quickly as they surged ahead, Petro Gazz wavered with its own miscues, allowing the Chargers to claw back within a point at 6-7 and turning the decider into another nerve-wracking showdown.
That was when Pablo, one of the league’s most seasoned big-game performers, took over. Delivering like the former Finals MVP she is, she nailed a hit off a combination play and followed it up with an ace to steady the Angels.
A well-timed block on Akari import Annie Mitchem then pushed them to a commanding 10-6 cushion.
Even as Akari’s Camille Victoria and Grethcel Soltones trimmed the gap to 8-10, the Angels never lost their poise. In true championship fashion, they regrouped swiftly – anchored on their collective calm and unspoken chemistry developed over years of title runs.
And when it mattered most, import Lindsey Vander Weide sealed the deal with authority. The American spiker unleashed three straight hammer hits to close out the match, leaving the Chargers stunned and the Angels celebrating a win that was as much about will as it was about skill.
“We really worked hard at the beginning of the game, and even if it reached the fifth set, we definitely weren’t going to give it up,” said Vander Weide, who poured in 22 points and earned Best Player of the Game honors after the grueling two-hour, 19-minute battle.
“The team was locked in for those 15 points in the fifth, and that’s exactly what we did. I’m very proud of this team,” she added.
Van Sickle backed her up with 19 markers, while MJ Phillips and Pablo chipped in 13 and 12, respectively – numbers that highlighted the Angels’ balanced, multi-pronged attack.
“Siguro, nung first and two sets, naging okay naman 'yung game namin, nag-usap-usap naman kami. Nung third and fourth, medyo bumaba 'yung energy namin. So, nung fifth set, talagang kailangan namin maibalik yun (energy), 'yung communication,” said Pablo.
While Akari actually edged Petro Gazz in attacks (76-65) and aces (7-4), the Angels made up for it with superior blocking (11-5) and better discipline at the net. Their ability to execute under pressure – especially in the final stretch – proved the difference.
It was a performance that encapsulated what separates championship teams from contenders. When the margin for error shrank, Petro Gazz’s veterans tightened up their coverage, minimized miscues and trusted their system.
Their experience in closing out tough matches – honed from two Reinforced Conference titles – was on full display. Even as momentum swung violently across five sets, the Angels’ body language remained calm, their communication sharp and their decision-making sound.
With the victory, Petro Gazz improved to 3-1 in Pool B, temporarily seizing the provisional lead pending the result of the ZUS Coffee-Creamline match later in the night.
“We knew Akari’s a tough team. We came out firing but let up a bit after that. Still, we kept battling. In the fourth set, things weren’t clicking, so we benched a couple of starters. They weren’t too happy about it, but we needed to reset. When we brought them back, they had energy – and that’s what we needed in the fifth,” said Petro Gazz coach Gary Van Sickle.
For Akari, it was a painful setback despite a monster outing from Mitchem, who fired a game-high 30 points. Fifi Sharma sparkled with 18 points, while Eli Soyud and Ced Domingo added 14 and 13, respectively – but their efforts went for naught as the Chargers failed to complete another late miracle.
Akari, which slipped to 2-1, actually looked poised for a repeat of their earlier five-set wins over Creamline and Chery Tiggo after controlling the third and fourth sets. But when the match tightened in the decider, the Chargers blinked – and the Angels’ championship mettle took over.
