By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Petro Gazz leaned on the stellar performances of Grethcel Soltones, Aiza Pontillas and Jonah Sabete to overpower F2 Logistics, 26-14, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, and book the last ticket to the semis in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
The power-hitting Soltones unleashed 22 points while the crisp-spiking duo of Pontillas and Sabete added 18 points apiece to power the Angels forge a best-of-three duel with the Cignal HD Spikers.
They also sent the Cargo Movers, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League titlists, packing.
It marked the second straight season in the pros that the Angels will advance to the semis.
And this time, Petro Gazz is hoping it could get past the round after a heartbreaking series defeat to Creamline last season before settling for third place by edging Choco Mucho.
The other semis round pits sister teams Creamline and Choco Mucho.
Choco Mucho gained entry to the semis with a gritty 25-21, 23-25, 29-31, 25-15, 15-11 victory over PLDT in the first game.
Kat Tolentino stood tallest for the Flying Titans, banging in 19 points, including one that shattered an 8-all count in the decided.
She was ably backed by Isa Molde.
“It was a tough one, but we’re just glad we survived it,” said Tolentino post-match.
Petro Gazz fell into a maze of service errors but the superb spiking of Soltones, Pontillas and Sabete enabled the Angels to hang on and fend off repeated attempts by F2 to turn things around.
But there was one set where the Angels completely lost concentration after they blew their chance to seize the second set and take a 2-0 lead that allowed the Cargo Movers to snatch it and knot the count at 1-1 instead.
Petro Gazz never let F2 get that close again in the last two sets where the former showed steady nerves.
