Petro Gazz bounces back, blanks Choco Mucho for first win

By NIKOLE JAVIER
Petro Gazz bounced back in dominant fashion at the expense of Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Angels recovered from a six-point deficit in the first set to take their morale a notch higher in the ensuing sets after taking a beating from the Creamline Cool Smashers in the opening salvo last Feb. 4.
Veteran spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas tallied 19 points off 18 attacks and one block to hand Petro Gazz its first win of the season while Grethcel Soltones added 11 points in the much-anticipated affair.
Tied at 14-all in the third set, the Angels immediately got all up in their arms courtesy of Soltones and Nicole Tiamzon’s offensive production.
The returning Maddie Madayag, who towed Choco Mucho to its first win last Feb. 4, would go on her own scoring spree with three straight points to pull the team within one, 17-18.
Despite the Flying Titans' efforts to stay afloat and force an extension with Des Cheng’s down-the-line kill, 21-23, Maizo-Pontillas and Jonah Sabete would punctuate the match with back-to-back points to complete the sweep.
"Maturity nila andoon (the players), 'yong hard work nila andoon. It's them and they will make it. We have to put up the character and pilitin namin na gustuhin nila kailangan iyong endgame pag may isang mag-step up, kahit sino basta you have to want it, you will get it," said Petro Gazz head coach Oliver Almadro.
Kat Tolentino paced the Flying Titans with 14 points while the rest of the team was held to single-digit production.