PetroGazz sweeps Choco Mucho, bags third place in PVL Open

PetroGazz is taking home the bronze in the maiden professional season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

The Angels completed a sweep of Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21, in Game 2 of their best-of-three battle for third in the 2021 PVL Open Conference Thursday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Ilocos Norte.

PetroGazz trailed in the early parts of the game as Choco Mucho opted to field its second unit but three consecutive attacks by veteran open spiker Ces Molina still handed them the first set, 25-20.

The Angels also activated their bench players in the second set as seldom-used Seth Rodriguez' drop ball had them doubling up on the Flying Titans, 18-9. They settled the set at 25-18 to make it a 2-0 affair.

Choco Mucho sparked some signs of comeback in the third set as usual starters Ponggay Gaston, Regine Arocha, and Deanna Wong were inserted back into the game and ignited for a 6-1 run, 19-22.

A down-the-line hit from Kim Gequillana brought them to within three, 20-23, but a Myla Pablo cross court hit sealed the hard-fought win for PetroGazz, 25-21.

In Game 1 on Wednesday, PetroGazz asserted their dominance over the Choco Mucho, 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20, to move a win away from a bronze finish.

The celebration, though, was muted as Choco Mucho team captain Maddie Madayag hurt her knee in the fourth set. There is no official word yet on the injury.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News