Myla Pablo and the Petro Gazz Angels after sweeping the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Petro Gazz is a proud owner of two import-laden championships the previous seasons with a shiny all-Filipino trophy the only hardware lacking in the Angels’ collection.
The Angels gave themselves the chance to satisfy that craving on Thursday night by walloping the Akari Chargers, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18, en route to the finals of the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
LIVE: PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals – April 3
“We’re happy to be back in the finals. Unlike in the reinforced (conference) with imports, the all-Filipino has higher expectations, so we will do our best,’’ said Myla Pablo after lifting the Angels with 16 points and four blocks.
Brooke Van Sickle had 14 attacks out of 15 points and contributed nine digs on the defensive end as the Angels progressed to the championships for the sixth time in franchise history, four of them in the all-Filipino.
Petro Gazz Angels’ Brooke Van Sickle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
They won a pair of reinforced conference titles, but didn’t have much success in the centerpiece tournament without imports.
“It feels very surreal. It’s a very long conference with several ups and downs. I’m so glad that my teammates are all here for me. To be in the finals with them is awesome,’’ said Van Sickle, the season MVP when the Angels placed third in the all-Filipino conference last year.
Setter Chie Saet tossed 12 excellent sets and libero Baby Love Barbon protected the floor with 11 digs and 12 receptions for the Angels, who toppled all three semifinal opponents in the single-round phase, including powerhouse Creamline.
READ: PVL: Myla Pablo’s resilience fuels Petro Gazz in crucial win
“Actually, this (finals appearance) is really for Brooke. She was really good the past conferences,’’ added Pablo.
The Chargers engaged Petro Gazz in a fiery exchange across multiple deadlocks in the opening frame courtesy of Ivy Lacsina and Eli Soyud.
Grethcel Soltones tied Set 1 one last time at 22 with a crosscourt strike before the Angels finally pulled away starting with a Van Sickle smash. Back-to-back blocks by Pablo wrapped it up for the Angels.
Sustaining a ferocious opener, the Angels didn’t let up in the second set as the Chargers were forced to mount a hot pursuit.
Lacsina’s assault at the net and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas attack error pulled the Chargers within two, but Van Sickle’s wallop followed by a sharp Pablo cross were the decisive plays prior to another Akari blunder at set point.
At this point, the Angels carefully went through the motion of administering a quick ending by continuously keeping the Chargers on their toes.
Soyud’s long swing that went beyond the end line kicked off Akari’s downfall in Set 3 as Van Sickle responded with two consecutive attacks and Pontillas scored another kill off the block for a 20-14 Petro Gazz cushion.
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Faith Nisperos kept the Chargers breathing with a couple of hits, but an MJ Phillips ace and another hammer by Nicole Tiamzon off a deflection did them in.
