Another five-set test, another grind for F2 Logistics.
But Petro Gazz changed the script this time, battling back from 0-4 down in the fifth set and enduring a couple of momentum-stopping lulls to carve out a 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 33-35, 15-9 victory in a key Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference elims match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.
While the Angels’ closing 7-0 run was decisive, it proved anti-climactic as the two teams engaged for challenges after challenges instead in an attempt to gain the precious points, leading to long breaks and in a way, confusion, particularly at endgame of a duel that took three hours and 13 minutes to finish.
But a win is a win and Petro Gazz stretched its run to three after dropping its opening day game to Cignal while halting F2 Logistics’ own three-game streak as the Angels tied the Cargo Movers at 3-1 in Pool B play.
That should give the Angels the drive and confidence they need as they go for a semifinal berth against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans tomorrow.
Choco Mucho dragged F2 Logistics into a long drawn-out, highly emotional battle of power, wits and nerves but blew a 14-11 lead in the fifth set, leading to the Cargo Movers’ victory late Tuesday.
F2 Logistics looked headed for a reprise of that feat as they rebounded from a blowout loss in the pivotal third set and survived five match points in an exhausting, rip-roaring four-set skirmish, the also featured challenges, with a big 4-0 start in the fifth.
But the Angels proved far from being finished. With coach Oliver Almadro suing for time to break the run and inserting Chie Saet into the fray, the veteran playmaker didn’t disappoint, setting up their hitters with fast or under-hand feeds, leading to a 5-2 counter-attack, capped by Kecelyn Galdones block off Kim Dy.
The Angels tied at it at six off a positional error in a disputed point that took so long to resolve then after the Cargo Movers regained the lead at 9-8 on an Aby Maraño tip after two big saves from Dawn Catindig, Petro Gazz unleashed that blistering windup behind Grethcel Soltones.
Unlike in the fifth set of the F2-Choco Mucho duel that took 29 minutes to finish, Thursday's decider lasted 44 minutes as the match took another long break after the Angels pulled away at 13-9 on an unsuccessful F2 challenge.
The Cargo Movers had hoped to net their 10th point on a Soltones’ net touch but Petro Gazz challenged it and was later proved inconclusive, leading to a replay of the point. It, however, led to another contested call a couple of plays later as F2 went for a net fault challenge on Soltones while going for a hit against Maraño.
But in replay, it showed the veteran F2 middle’s knee had touched the net first before Soltones could at landing. But Petro Gazz moved at match point after contesting that Ivy Lacsina hit a shot at the front while she should have been at the backrow position.
At resumption, Soltones swiped a hit to dispatch the Cargo Movers.
“It’s a total team effort, so malaking factor ito para sa amin to gain the momentum and gain the trust that we need,” said Almadro. “I’ve been telling them that people will count us out but I also told them that everything comes together for good.”
Soltones, for one, got better and better, producing a PVL career-high 31 points, including 26 attacks and four blocks while Jonah Sabete fired 20 points and Aiza Pontillas and Remy Palma added 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the All-Filipino runners-up.
“In the fourth and fifth sets, I told them that this is the Lord’s battle, you have nothing to worry about, pinaghandaan nyo na to, nag-prepare na kayo, we just have to trust each other, trust the Lord for this win.”
They did as Soltones delivered a kill to get Petro Gazz into the scoring act in the decider. Though the Cargo Movers scored two of the next three points to restore a four-point lead, 6-2, the Angels took the next three on an F2 error, a Sabete blast and a Galdones’ kill block.
Then came the long stoppage.
But it didn’t break the Angels’ resolve as they stayed focused and handily overcame an 8-9 deficit with five straight hits as Soltones sizzled with their attacks, scoring three in that stretch en route to victory.
"I didn’t expect (to score this much). All I wanted was my team to go to the next round,” said Soltones, who also provided the poise in crucial moments in the last two sets. “I reminded them na hindi na bago sa atin ‘to, kayang-kaya natin ito.”
They did prove their supremacy with that confidence-shattering (for the Cargo Movers) endgame blast.
Majoy Baron delivered 16 points for F2, which also drew 15 markers from Lacsina, 12 hits from Dy and 10 points from top rookie Jolina dela Cruz, with Maraño adding nine hits.
But the rigors of their grueling battle against the Flying Titans and another grind against the Angels appeared to have taken their toll on the Cargo Movers, who, however, expect to bounce back against the Foton Tornadoes, on Tuesday.
