MANILA – Petro Gazz Angels leaned on its solid defense to maul Black Mamba-Army Lady Troopers, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference on Sunday night at the PCV Socia-Civic Cultural Center in Ilocos Norte.
Gretchel Soltones posted 18 points for the Angels, 15 digs, and 12 excellent receptions. Meanwhile, Marivic Meneses tallied nine blocks for 16 points.
Myla Pablo ended up with 16 points on 14 attacks and two blocks, while Frances Xinia Molina dropped 14 points as Petro Gazz joined Chery Tiggo Crossovers and Creamline Cool Smashers with a 1-0 slate.
The Angels have endured four hours of waiting to complete their maiden win in the PVL Open Conference after the match was halted early in the second set due to heavy rain.
As the match resumed on Sunday, the Lady Troopers behind Ilongga Nerissa Bautista, Guimarasnon Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Honey Royce Tubino staged an uprising to rule the second set.
The Angels regrouped with Molina coming off the bench to preside their third set attack with Soltones, while Meneses imposed her will on the net to anchor the team’s defense for the lead. The rampage continued after the fourth set.
The Lady Troopers made their last push to cut the deficit to 20-21, on three straight points by Joanne Buñag. But an error by the Black Mamba-Army followed by Soltones’ attack surged Petro Gazz’s lead to 23-21. They later completed their first win on back-to-back spiking errors by Lady Troopers’ Tubino.
Gonzaga led the Lady Troopers with 17 points on 15 attacks and two blocks to go with 16 digs and 14 receptions. Buñag chipped in 14 points while Tubino added 13 points.
With the delay of the conclusion of the Angels-Lady Troopers match, the PVL postponed to a later date the scheduled second match between Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the BaliPure Water Defenders./PN
