By NIKOLE JAVIER
Grethcel Soltones exploded for 31 points as Petro Gazz handed F2 Logistics its first loss in five thrilling sets, 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 33-35, 15-9, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Thursday, July 13, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
With the win – their third in four games – the Angels boosted their semifinals bid in Pool B standings after overtaking the Cargo Movers for the top seed.
It was a hard-earned win for Petro Gazz in a match that lasted for more than three hours, with the fourth and fifth sets alone lastng for 90 minutes.
Earlier, the Mylene Paat-led Chery Tiggo blanked newcomer Gerflor in straight sets, 25-19, 25-20, 25-18, to boost its own semis bid in Pool A.
Paat finished with 15 points in the swift victory as the Crossovers improved to 2-1.
Soltones led all scorers with a conference-high 31 points on 26 attacks, four blocks and a service ace to help Petro Gazz weathered F2 Logistics.
Jonah Sabete contributed 20 points of her own while Aiza Pontillas and Remy Palma finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Angels bounced back from their opening-set stumble and jumped to a 2-1 set lead.
However, the Cargo Movers refused to go down without a fight and brought the fourth set alone to its 23rd deadlock to drag the match into a sudden death.
Petro Gazz trailed 4-0 in the final set, but was able to dig itself out of the early deficit with a 6-2 run to tie the match at 6-all.
In a confusing turn of events, the technical issues prolonged the match which gave both teams a breather, with the Angels rising to a 13-9 advantage with a telling 5-0 run afterwards.
Ivy Lacsina, who delivered the clincher in F2 Logistics’ five-set escape win over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans a few days ago, was called for a foot fault.
The challenge then turned out to be a successful one for the Angels as Lacsina was a backrow player in the rotation who went over the line, making the attack illegal.
