THE Petro Gazz Angels took Game One of the best-of-three Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference battle for third series over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in four sets at the PCV Socio-Civic & Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, on Wednesday.
Led by veteran Myla Pablo, the Angels gained early traction in the contest which they used as a springboard to hold off the spirited challenge of the Flying Titans en route to the 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20 victory.
Petro Gazz had its way in the first two sets until Choco Mucho asserted itself in the third frame behind the efforts of Ponggay Gaston and Kat Tolentino.
The Flying Titans sustained the momentum early in the fourth set until it was zapped when captain Maddie Madayag went down with an apparent injury to her left knee midway and Choco Mucho up, 15-14.
Ms. Madayag was rolled out in a wheelchair after landing awkwardly off an attack.
After that, Choco Mucho just could not get it going, outscored, 11-5, the rest of the way.
Ms. Pablo had a game-high 26 points, 25 off attacks, while Grethcel Soltones had 13 and Ces Molina 11 in the win.
“We may be out of contention for the title, but we said to ourselves that we cannot leave the tournament without something. So we just played our best and worked together,” said Petro Gazz coach Arnold Laniog in Filipino of the mind set they have in the battle for third.
For Choco Mucho, who played its sixth game in as many days, it was Ms. Gaston who led with 18 points, followed by Ms. Tolentino with 10.
Ms. Madayag finished with six points before she got injured.
Petro Gazz has the chance to finish the series on Thursday in Game Two set for 2 p.m.
The best-of-three championship series, meanwhile, is being disputed by the Creamline Cool Smashers and Chery Tiggo Crossovers with Game One to be played later on Wednesday.
PVL Open Conference matches are shown over One Sports and One Sports+. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
