Angels survive thrilling three-setter vs HD Spikers, move to threshold of glory

It is going to go down as a 1-0 lead for Petro Gazz within the Premier Volleyball League Strengthened Convention title sequence after the Angels repulsed Cignal, 25-21, 27-25, 37-35 Thursday night time, however the highest high quality of play was the deal with a half-filled Sensible Araneta Coliseum crowd received that emphasised why each these groups are preventing for the crown.

Merely put, the Angels and the HD Spikers have provide you with a storyline for themselves which makes everybody neglect about that botched Creamline Grand Slam that was the main target firstly of the event and reeled in file crowds.

The Angels moved inside a win of retaining the crown they received three years in the past earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all of sports activities within the nation, and regardless of making the finals through the backdoor on Tuesday, Petro Gazz made good on its promise to take advantage of out of this chance.

“Tremendous completely satisfied as a result of we’re one recreation away from being champions once more,” stated setter Djanel Cheng in Filipino after being named the Greatest Participant of the match over import Lindsey Vander Weide, who scored the Angels’ last 4 factors of the one-hour and 48 minute match.

The fiery American was relentless with 31 assaults on the best way to a 34-point output as Petro Gazz additionally drew 10 factors every from Myla Pablo and Aiza Pontillas.

“Oh my gosh, that [third set] was irritating however I simply knew no matter ball I received, I needed to rating,” stated Vander Weide.

And after being dragged by the proverbial wringer by the HD Spikers, Cheng and the remainder of the Angels know that they can not take it simple, even with Recreation 2 slated on Tuesday.

“We nonetheless had loads of lapses,” Cheng stated. “We have to evaluation [the Game 1 tape] and tackle all of them for the following recreation.”

The scoreline may also say that it was a straight-sets win, and won’t essentially mirror how shut it was.

The HD Spikers made it that approach, however they simply couldn’t put the ending touches within the second and third frames which may have made it a completely completely different consequence.

Cignal saved a complete of 9 match factors, however eight service blunders within the third set doomed the HD Spikers, who must maintain it collectively on Tuesday to take this factor to a decider because the Angels will are available with all of the momentum they want for the potential championship-clincher.

In the meantime, on the energy of 17 blocks, Creamline turned again Chery Tiggo, 25-22, 22-25, 25-5, 25-19, and moved a win from clinching the bronze medal.

Licking the injuries of their failed Grand Slam bid after the Crossovers compelled a five-setter of their final semis recreation on Tuesday, the Cool Smashers remained hungry to complete the season sturdy as Jeanette Panaga unloaded 9 blocks to complete with 14 factors, whereas Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez propelled their attacking.

“Our mindset was to play our recreation and convey again our ‘completely satisfied, completely satisfied’ mentality. Coach Sherwin [Meneses] advised us to play with much less strain and consider the rationale why we’re right here,” stated Panaga in Filipino after tying the season-high in blocking set by Rose Doria throughout Cignal’s five-set win over PLDT within the Invitationals’ battle for third.

With Turkish spiker Yeliz Basa and center blocker Ced Domingo sitting out, Carlos led Creamline with 19 factors off 18 assaults and a block on high of 17 digs, as Valdez additionally joined the block occasion with 4 blocks to complete with 16 markers and had 10 digs.

—WITH A REPORT FROM Lance D. Agcaoili

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