Petro Gazz head coach Rald Ricafort said that the constant reminders coming from the coaching staff to just stay focused allowed the Angels to complete its four-set win over PLDT on Saturday night.
The defending Reinforced Conference champion 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 27-25 outlasted the High Speed Hitters at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex.
A challenge call by PLDT head coach George Pascua late in the fourth set halted the game for about a half an hour as officials could not find the play that Pascua was challenging. In the end, the Angels got the crucial point as the High Speed Hitters called the challenge in the middle of a rally.
Locked at 24-all after the delay, Lindsey Vander Weide hammered one home to push Petro Gazz at match point but MJ Phillips could not wrap it up with a push but eventually roofed Elena Savkina-Samoilenko to move at match point.
Samoilenko’s attack in the following play sailed out as the Angels ran away with a win.
“Alam naman nila kung gaano ka-importante yung game sa amin saka nire-remind namin lagi sila na mag-focus sa kung anong nangyayari ngayon,” said Ricafort after the game.
‘So nakatulong naman sa kanila na yun nga, regardless sa mga ganung pangyayari, kailangan nakatutok talaga kami sa instructions at makuha namin yung panalo. Gusto talaga nila (manalo),” he added.
Ricafort also lauded PLDT for the fight they showed throughout the match.
“Sluggish kami nung start. Sluggish, 'di ko alam kung stiff ba o what,” said the UP men’s volleyball head coach.
Pero nag-adjust din naman si PLDT, hats off din sa import talaga nila mataas talaga yung abot and at the same time gumana yung middles nila na gusto sana naming na-stop nang maaga so nakuha naman.”
