BY ABBY TORALBA
PETRO Gazz overpowered Akari 25-15, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16 yesterday for its third straight win and gained a semifinals berth in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Open hitter Gretchel Soltones showed the way for the Angels with 20 points, 16 from attacks and four service aces, along with 12 digs, while Aiza Maizo-Pontillas added 15 markers.
Petro Gazz clinched the second semis slot due to superior set ratio and raised its record to 5-2.
Remy Palma contributed 13 points for the Angels, while Jonah Sabete and MJ Phillips delivered 11 and 10, respectively.
Djanel Cheng tossed 25 excellent sets along with four points as Petro Gazz sent the Chargers packing.
“That’s our realistic goal to be in the semifinals first. Sabi nga namin, we’ll work hard to reach the realistic goal first and then let’s take it from there and if the Lord gives us the opportunity to be in the finals, we’ll be happy,” Angels coach Oliver Almadro said. “That’s what we’re talking about (peaking of the team), the steadiness of will should be there and we have to exceed expectations. Sabi ko nga kanina sa huddle, exceed expectation for us.
“We’re happy that we’re in the semifinals but we should not be stopping. Hindi kami puwedeng tumigil. Ang importante is we have to be better than our best every day and every game,” he added.
Erika Raagas was the lone bright spot for Akari, which fell to 2-5, with 19 points.
