Petro Gazz stuns Cignal, arranges PVL finals duel with Creamline

Petro Gazz pulled off an upset over top seed Cignal, eking out a 25-21, 28-26, 15-25, 25-21 four-set victory in Game 3 of their semifinal series to advance to the 2022 PVL Open Conference finals on Monday night.

The win set up a renewal of the rivalry between the Angels and the Creamline Cool Smashers, who earlier swept sister team Choco Mucho in their semifinals bracket.

There were plenty of heroes for Petro Gazz but veterans Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Myla Pablo took charge, finishing with 17 points each to steer their team to a third finals meeting with Cool Smashers since joining the league.

Rem Palma was also effective manning the middle after she churned out 14 points while Grethcel Soltones carved out 12 markers, 21 digs, and 12 excellent receptions.

Petro Gazz and Creamline are familiar foes as they duked it out for the title twice in 2019 during the Reinforced Conference as well as the Open Conference. Petro Gazz emerged victorious in the import-flavored tiff while Creamline ruled the Open.

Cignal, meanwhile, has absorbed a shocking exit after an impressive start to the season which saw them sweep all four games in the pool stage before blanking Balipure in their quarterfinals affair.

The HD Spikers also won in Game 1 but Petro Gazz banked on to its seasoned players to dominate the next two games.

Game 1 of the best-of-three finals will be on April 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena while Game 2 is slated for April 8 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Game 3, if necessary, will also be held at the Ynares Center on April 10.

—JMB, GMA News