By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Petro Gazz Angels pulled off a major shocker in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference grand finals after taking care of the top-seeded Creamline Cool Smashers in Game 1, 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24, last March 26, 2023, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Aside from upsetting the rolling Cool Smashers, the Angels also broke their 14-game slump against Creamline and moved one win away from recapturing the PVL throne.
Despite taking down the Cool Smashers in just four sets, the Angels and head coach Oliver Almadro still had to dig deep after trailing during the first and the fourth set.
Jonah Sabete once again answered the call for Petro Gazz and stepped up when her team needed her the most after tallying a game-high 18-point production built from 16 successful attacks.
Sabete, who lately found her attacking rhythm during the start of the PVL playoffs, outdueled Creamline’s Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza.
When Petro Gazz needed to stop the bleeding everytime the Cool Smashers made a run and looked to clinch the momentum away, the Angels went to Sabete who was just efficient with her spikes.
Creamline regrouped to equalize the championship affair at 1-1 but Petro Gazz played harder and put more emphasis on their middle blocking in the third and fourth sets that rewarded them with the huge Game 1 win.
“So sabi nga namin, we will breathe properly, kasi tapos na ‘yung isang game. But hindi pa tapos ‘yung series. So sabi nga nila, pinaka-mahirap to get the series. But, I’m happy with what my players did. They are composed. They showed character towards the endgame, and they really helped each other and trusted each other,” said Petro Gazz’s chief mentor Almadro.
Petro Gazz ended the game in style after coach Almadro called a risky last-possession challenge when he saw a block touch from Creamline’s middle blockers after a Gretchel Soltones attack.
Almadro’s clutch challenge was then rewarded after the video system replay confirmed Jia Morado-De Guzman touching the net with her right forearm.
Creamline will look to stay alive and kick off its comeback attempt today, March 28, 2023, in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series.
