AT THE doorstep of a second All-Filipino Finals appearance, Petro Gazz aims to avoid any missteps as the fired-up Angels take on the dangerous Akari Chargers, not just to sweep the semifinal round but, more importantly, to secure the first slot in the best-of-three championship series.
The Angels have not returned to the Finals of the Premier Volleyball League’s centerpiece tournament since suffering a heartbreaking sudden-death loss to the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2023 finale at MOA Arena. They then finished sixth in the second AFC that same year before clinching third place last season.
With renewed confidence and a collective mindset to overcome all challenges, the Angels, two-time Reinforced Conference champions, now find themselves within reach of another shot at the championship in a historic edition of the All-Filipino Conference, where parity among teams has been evident.
All that stands in their way is the Chargers, whom they face at 4 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Araneta Coliseum. And the Angels expect this match to be just as challenging as their previous battles against the Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
“Akari is a strong team,” said Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara, choosing to keep things simple when asked about expectations and their game plan. He guided the Angels to a stunning fourth-set comeback against the Flying Titans on Tuesday night, mirroring their four-set triumph over the Cool Smashers last weekend to inch closer to the championship.
Facing fellow Japanese tactician Taka Minowa, Tsuzurabara expects a tough test but remains cautiously optimistic, noting that the Angels continue to improve and sharpen their mental game.
Despite sweeping Akari in the preliminaries, Petro Gazz expects nothing less than a grueling battle today. Their previous encounter was anything but easy, with the Angels having to grind out extended-set victories before finally prevailing, 28-26, 29-27, 25-18.
A loss, combined with a potential Creamline victory over Choco Mucho, would result in a three-way tie at the top at 2-1.
Meanwhile, wins by both Akari and Choco Mucho would force a three-way tie for second place at 1-2, with Petro Gazz securing the first Finals slot. In such scenarios, a playoff will be needed to break the deadlock on Saturday back at the Philsports Arena.
With all possibilities still on the table, one thing is clear – the road to the championship remains tough, and the Angels must prove they have what it takes to soar to the top once again.
Creamline, fresh off a dominant straight-sets win against Akari, is also gunning for the other Finals berth as it battles sister team Choco Mucho in the 6:30 p.m. main event. PR