Red-hot Petro Gazz sweeps Cignal for 1st loss; Chery sends Galeries to 7th 5-set heartbreak

MANILA, Philippines – The Petro Gazz Angels wrapped up their 2024 PVL calendar with a bang, as they rode a stunning 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 sweep to hand the Cignal HD Spikers their first loss of the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena on Saturday, December 14.

Brooke Van Sickle led the Angels’ fourth straight win to clinch a 5-1 record with 19 points off 13 attacks and a game-high 6 blocks, while fellow MVP Myla Pablo kept up her vintage dominant stretch with 15 points, all off attacks.

Trailing by 3, 19-16, late in the second set, Petro Gazz rewrote the game script against what looked like a relaxed Cignal side, as Van Sickle and Pablo led a scorching 9-2 rally to steal a 25-21 finish and seize a commanding two-set lead.

Now with full momentum on their side, the Angels again broke away in the third, transforming a small 10-9 lead to a 21-14 breakaway off a telling 11-4 surge, ending with a Vanie Gandler attack error that set the somber tone for the HD Spikers’ endgame.

Cignal hardly threatened from that point onwards as Van Sickle and Jonah Sabete put the finishing touches to seal the statement sweep for solo second place, just behind undefeated rival Creamline at 4-0. Former MVP Ces Molina was the lone double-digit scorer for the HD Spikers with 10 points.

Meanwhile, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers celebrated a bounce-back victory to end the year the hard way, denying ever-gutsy Galeries Tower in an extended five-set effort, 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 16-25, 15-8, to earn a 4-2 record.

The Highrisers, meanwhile, dropped their 15th game in the last 16 — stunningly the seventh five-set heartbreaker in just that span — to settle with a 1-5 card in 11th place.

Cess Robles stayed hot as Chery Tiggo’s new top outside hitter with a game-high 21 points, 11 excellent receptions, and 9 excellent digs, while veteran blocker Aby Maraño turned back the clock with 15 points on 10 attacks, 3 blocks, and 2 aces.

Pauline Gaston and Shaya Adorador scored 14 and 13, respectively, as Ara Galang rounded out the Crossovers’ double-digit scorers with 11 points laced with a game-high-tying 3 rejections.

Three players scored in double figures in the losing effort, led by 18 from France Ronquillo, and 16 and 15, respectively, from Jewel Encarnacion and Ysa Jimenez. – Rappler.com