Petro Gazz fashioned out a three-set triumph against Akari, but in hard-fought fashion – as the Angels encountered stiff resistance before carving out a 25-21, 25-23, 25-17 victory over the Chargers in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan Saturday night.
Aiza Pontillas flashed vintage form and dished out a solid nine-point showing in strong support to Brooke Van Sickle’s top-scoring 24 points, while Jonah Sabete added 12 hits for the Angels, who matched their three-set romp over the PLDT High Speed Hitters last weekend following a tough five-set defeat to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Van Sickle, who delivered four aces and finished with six excellent digs, acknowledged her teammates’ solid support throughout the match.
The victory leveled Petro Gazz, a two-time Reinforced Conference champion, with PLDT at 3-1 with the Angels facing the Farm Fresh Foxies on March 14 before taking on another top contender in the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on March 21, also at the San Juan arena.
Despite falling to 1-3, Akari showed commendable performance in all three sets, fiercely challenging the fancied Angels. The Chargers, still developing chemistry with the recent additions of former Petro Gazz hitter Grethcel Soltones and ex-Creamline top middle Ced Domingo, kept the game close in the first two sets.
In the third, Akari dictated the tempo early on, twice holding a two-point advantage. However, a crucial error from Roselle Baliton’s serve sparked a 4-1 surge by the Angels.
Petro Gazz, scoring heavily on Van Sickle and Sabete’s off-the-block hits, closed out the match with a 7-3 run, featuring Kecelyn Galdones’ back-to-back quick attacks that brought the Angels to match point, 24-17.
Eli Soyud’s long attack in the succeeding play sealed the one-hour, 36-minute win for the Angels.
