Shaking off a lackluster first-set performance, Petro Gazz stormed back to sweep the next three sets and secure a 12-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-20 victory over PLDT in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Three Angels delivered double-digit scores to counter Savi Davison’s explosive 28-point showing, propelling Petro Gazz to their fourth win (4-1) in five games and second place (12 points) in the standings, just behind the unbeaten Cignal HD Spikers (4-0), whom they will face this Saturday before the league heads into a holiday break.

Myla Pablo, steadily returning to her peak form, tallied a conference-high 19 points, including a decisive through-the-block hit that sealed the match in one hour and 51 minutes.

Brooke Van Sickle, however, shone the brightest with a game-high 21 points, complemented by 12 digs and eight receptions, further solidifying her pivotal role in the team.

Reflecting on their first set struggle, Van Sickle said, “The first set didn’t go as planned, but we stayed calm, stayed collected and stayed together. Mental focus was key, and it worked out.”

Praising her counterpart, who also impressed on defense with nine digs and 12 receptions, van Sickle said: “She (Davison) is a phenomenal player, I couldn’t even stop some of her hits.”

Despite Davison's brilliance, PLDT lacked solid support, with Fiola Ceballos and Erika Santos managing just eight points apiece and Majoy Baron adding five after a promising start on her birthday.

Petro Gazz, meanwhile, showcased depth, with Jonah Sabete contributing 17 points and Remy Palma and Joy Dacoron adding eight and six markers, respectively. The Angels also dominated in spiking (62-50) and neutralized PLDT's blocking – a league-leading strength – holding them to just three blocks compared to their own nine.

Despite committing 25 unforced errors and yielding free points, the Angels’ offensive prowess and team effort more than compensated for their miscues, a stark contrast to PLDT’s inability to capitalize on errors.

Meanwhile, PLDT, which dropped to 3-2, faces a challenging path ahead as its aim to recover from back-to-back losses. The team, however, will have over a month to regroup and recharge before resuming their campaign against the Akari Chargers on Jan. 18, 2025.

In the other game, Akari unleashed a resilient performance to overturn a shaky opening set, powering through Chery Tiggo with a 22-25, 26-24, 25-18, 25-20 victory.

The Chargers shook off the frustration of a botched first set, where they squandered a commanding 19-11 lead, as they showcased tenacity and composure in the next three frames.

Their victory snapped an alarming three-game losing skein and brought them back to a 3-3 record, reigniting their hopes in the league's six-month-long campaign organized by Sports Vision.

Grethcel Soltones epitomized the team’s renewed fighting spirit, powering through a slight hand injury to top-score with 22 points and earn game honors. Despite the setback, the former MVP remained optimistic.