Petro Gazz hurdled its last tough rival in Cignal with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-17 victory to strengthen its semifinal drive in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, April 16.

Jonah Sabete and Brooke Van Sickle paced the Angels with their all-around plays, firing 16 and 13 points, respectively, while taking charge of their defensive end with a combined six blocks.

It was Petro Gazz’s second straight triumph, improving its win-loss record to 7-2 to tie with Creamline at third place with two matches left against less fancied teams in the eliminations -- against Galeries Tower on Saturday, April 20, and Nxled on Tuesday, April 23.

“Unang-una, masaya kami dahil lumilinaw na yung daan papuntang semis,” said Petro Gazz skipper Remy Palma, who contributed eight points.

“Pero hindi pa tapos ang elimination round. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax. Kailangan pa naming matapos maayos ang eliminations, tapos tingnan namin kung saan kami aabutin,” she added.

Though coming off a two-week respite, the Angels went on full throttle by dictating the tempo for most parts of the match.

They overpowered the HD Spikers on all fronts, outspiking them, 42-31, and posting nine blocks compared to three from Cignal.

Petro Gazz also sizzled on the service area, exposing Cignal’s weak first ball by draining seven aces, two each from Marian Buitre and Chie Saet.

None from the HD Spikers scored in twin figures with Ces Molina and Vanie Gandler managing only eight points apiece. Jovelyn Gonzaga was also limited to four points.

Cignal absorbed its third loss in its last four games to slip at 5-4 to remain at solo sixth.