Petro Gazz’s Myla Pablo tries to score against Choco Mucho in the PVL on Tour in Candon, Ilocos Sur.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A week after champion coach Koji Tsuzurabara’s departure, Petro Gazz ended the PVL on Tour preliminary round in high spirits after fending off Choco Mucho, 20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17, on Tuesday night at Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
The Angels, handled by interim coach Brian Esquibel after the Japanese coach’s decision to come home to his country, overcame a flat start and flashed their championship poise to stave off the strong challenge by the Flying Titans.
READ: PVL: Koji Tsuzurabara heads home to Japan after Petro Gazz stint
Myla Pablo was the team’s stabilizer, pouring in 23 points and rallying her teammates to erase a 12-15 deficit in the fourth set with eight unanswered points capped by AA Adolfo’s attack for a 20-15 lead.
Nicole Tiamzon was also instrumental and sent Petro Gazz to match point, 24-17, before Pablo scored from the backrow off a broken play to end a two-game skid and finished fourth in Pool A with a 2-3 record.
“Actually, this win is really for the players. You can really see how they worked together. Their effort during long rallies, we were the ones scoring because they never gave up. The fighting spirit of these players is still there,” said Esquibel in Filipino. “That’s the heart of a champion.”
“I’m not the right person to talk about [Coach Koji’s exit], but I’ll do the job that Petro Gazz entrusted to me—to handle the team for this On Tour tournament.”
READ: PVL: Coach Koji Tsuzurabara, Petro Gazz part ways
The 2024-25 All-Filipino champion, which has been missing Alas Pilipinas players Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips in the preseason, battles Akari for a quarterfinal spot in a knockout game on August 5.
Pablo delivered 19 kills, three blocks, and an ace on top of 16 excellent receptions. Tiamzon had 16 points and 12 digs, coming off the bench, while Aiza Maizo-Pontillas had 10 points, highlighted by three kill blocks.
Bang Pineda, who made her homecoming to Petro Gazz days ago, shone as the main libero with 13 digs and 12 receptions.
Choco Mucho suffered its fourth straight defeat, winning only its first match in the prelims. The Flying Titans are slated against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the knockout stage also on August 5.
READ: PVL: Myla Pablo leads Petro Gazz’s bounce back win
The KO round kicks off in Dasmariñas, Cavite, with Capital1 facing Farm Fresh and Chery Tiggo battling Galeries Tower.
Petro Gazz recovered from a meltdown in the third despite blowing a 17-13 spread, with Cherry Nunag drilling the timely hits to send Choco Mucho to set point, 24-23.
Maizo-Pontillas won a joust to save a point before Ayesha Juego’s spike went straight to the net to steal the advantage, 25-24. Marian Buitre’s service was initially called out, but the Angels called for a challenge, proving that it hit the Flying Titans’ line for the set-clinching ace.
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Nunag led the Flying Titans with 17 points built on 11 kills, four blocks, and two aces. Juegos delivered 16 points and 11 digs. Royse Tubino had 13 points, as libero Thang Ponce’s 27-dig and 22-reception game went for naught.
