ANTIPOLO CITY – Petro Gazz kept its Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinal hopes alive after overpowering ZUS Coffee 25-19, 25-13, 28-26 in Game 2 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series Saturday at the Ynares Center.
The Angels bounced back from a stunning straight-sets defeat in Game 1 by unleashing a relentless offensive and defensive performance, capped by a gritty finish in the third set to force a sudden-death Game 3 on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
“We got a little too eager,” said middle blocker MJ Phillips. “We just wanted to end the set quickly. But we kept reminding each other to stay calm and focus on one point at a time. That helped us lock in and finish strong.”
Phillips, who was named Best Player of the Game, led a balanced Petro Gazz offense with 11 points on quick hits that consistently disrupted ZUS Coffee’s blocking rhythm.
Brooke Van Sickle celebrated her 27th birthday in style, delivering a game-high 17 points on top of eight excellent digs.
Veteran spikers Myla Pablo and Jonah Sabete each added 11 points to reinforce the Angels’ resurgence.
Sabete’s return from injury proved timely as she delivered a clutch kill late in the third set to restore match point for Petro Gazz.
Van Sickle then fired a searing crosscourt attack and followed it up with a strong serve that forced a miscue and a reaching violation by the Thunderbelles, sealing the win in just one hour and 19 minutes.
After dropping the first set despite leading 19-18, ZUS Coffee showed signs of life late in the third by erasing a 19-23 deficit with a 4-0 run.
Jovelyn Gonzaga tied the set with a crosscourt hit, but Petro Gazz held firm behind its veterans and decisive net presence.
Petro Gazz dominated at the net, scoring seven blocks against ZUS Coffee’s two, while also outgunning its rivals in attacks, 47-37.
The Angels also played a cleaner game overall, committing fewer errors and converting on key opportunities.
Setter Chie Saet dictated the pace with 18 excellent sets, often finding success by shifting focus to the middle and allowing Phillips to exploit defensive gaps.
Saet’s smart play-calling helped the Angels shake off erratic moments and mount crucial runs in all three sets.
ZUS Coffee struggled to replicate its Game 1 magic, with only Chinnie Arroyo scoring in double figures at 11 points.
Chai Troncoso, who had 14 in their opening win, was limited to eight, the same as Thea Gagate, while Gonzaga and Michelle Gamit managed just seven and three points, respectively.
“You have no patience, that’s why you’re frustrated,” said ZUS Coffee coach Jerry Yee during a timeout, calling out his players for complacency following their Game 1 upset.
Petro Gazz, a two-time Reinforced Conference champion, was laser-focused in Set 2, finishing with zero unforced errors while earning five points off Thunderbelles miscues.
Phillips ignited a 6-1 closing run in the first set and fueled a 7-0 surge in the second with timely attacks and a pivotal block on Arroyo.
The Angels played like a cohesive unit, executing a flawless game plan and pouncing on every opening as they denied the Thunderbelles any chance to regain momentum.
With the series tied 1-1, both teams now brace for a high-stakes Game 3, where a semifinal slot hangs in the balance.
Petro Gazz will enter the winner-take-all clash with renewed confidence, aiming to sustain its aggressive style and return to the Final Four.
