THE Petro Gazz Angels took down the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in a thrilling five-setter on Nov. 21, 2021, 22-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11, for its second straight win in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League at the Aquamarine Recreational Center.
With Myla Pablo at the helm of their awesome offensive attack, the Angels established a 13-9 lead in the fifth set and never looked back to claim its second win in as many games in this competition.
Every set and point matters in the tournament—the team which has the best record will emerge as the first-ever Champions League queens. Although PetroGazz has the same 2-0 win-loss record as F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, the one-time Premier Volleyball League champion, sit in second place.
In the first tiebreaker, the Cargo Movers have a maximum of six points while the Angels have five. The team that wins in three or four sets will have three points while a five-set victory will only gain two points.
The Crossovers, who dropped to 1-1, are now in third place with four points as the reigning PVL Open Conference titlists collected a point by virtue of the five-set loss.
Tuguegarao Perlas, which bested California Precision Sports on opening day, also sports a 1-1 card, but only has three points in the first tiebreaker to stay in fourth place.
PetroGazz will face F2 Logistics at 4 p.m. on Monday in a matchup that could determine both club’s fate in winning the championship of the tournament.
Despite being dragged to a five-setter, coach Arnold Laniog said that beating the Crossovers will still serve as a confidence-builder heading into their showdown with the Cargo Movers.
“Actually we still have three games left so one game at a time,” Laniog said. “We will really prepare hard against F2. We will work hard to get the ‘W.’”
“This W (against Chery Tiggo) will definitely boost our morale going into our game against F2,” he added.
Petro Gazz neutralized Chery Tiggo’s main offensive weapon, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, in the crucial moments.
“At the end of the fourth set and in the fifth set, at least we were able to control her,” said Laniog of Manabat.