Petro battles Creamline for PVL crown

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz displayed tenacity and grit as it downed Cignal, 25-21, 28-26, 15-25, 25-21, last night to set the stage for a finals encounter against Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Myla Pablo took charge in the first two sets while Grethcel Soltones and Remy Mary Joy Palma went to work in the fourth to complete the Angels’ come-from-behind 2-1 series win.

The title series against Creamline starts tomorrow at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Pablo fired 17 points, most of which came in the first two sets when the Angels seized a 2-0 set lead, while Palma and Soltones chipped in 14 and 12, respectively, wreaking havoc in the fourth set to seal the deal.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas was also heroic and scattered 17 hits. Chie Saet dished out 36 excellent sets while chipping in four points.

“We really worked hard for this even though we had a short preparation,” said a teary-eyed Saet. “But the team has really matured that’s why it wasn’t hard to adjust.”

Ces Molina led all scorers with 23 points while Roselyn Doria had 15 hits.

It didn’t help that Cignal’s leader Rachel Anne Daquis was held to just eight points. She was taken out after the first two sets due to cramps.

Meanwhile, Creamline has declared its readiness for the best-of-three finals.

“We’re expecting a tough series against any of the two but we will be ready,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.

The Cool Smashers’ vast experience was on display in a 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-15 win that capped a two-game sweep of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, their sister team, last Sunday before a record PVL crowd of 16,687.

Creamline will come into the finals with a perfect slate against Petro Gazz.

Game 2 is set Friday and a decider, if necessary, is on Sunday both at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The Cool Smashers will carry with them the stigma of their finals defeat to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte last season.