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PVL: Salas deals killing blow as Petro Gazz foils Creamline’s comeback attempt

Petro Gazz’s Wilma Salas. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA (UPDATED) – Petro Gazz foiled Creamline’s comeback attempt in five sets, 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-12, to deal the All-Filipino champions their second loss in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Import Wilma Salas fired the killing blow in the thriller, capping a 34-point outburst on 33 attacks and one block alongside 17 excellent digs to survive the gritty Cool Smashers in two hours, 44 minutes.

PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle was there to support the winning cause with 24 markers anchored on 23 attacks and an ace, and did her part for the defensive side with 18 excellent receptions.

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Down 0-2 in sets, the Cool Smashers started strong in the third canto with a 13-5 run to eventually get into the set scores column.

At the 24-21 mark in Set 4, Salas scored two more attacks — a drop ball and a down-the-line hit — in an attempt to steal the frame, but middle blocker Bea de Leon forced a decider after conniving with Kyle Negrito with a combination play.

The Reinforced Conference defending champions finally regained their form in Set 5 and got a bit of separation after they rallied to three unanswered points from the 8-all deadlock, concluded by an Aiza Maizo-Pontillas kill.

Salas carried the Gazz Angels’ hopes with back-to-back hits in the endgame to claim their third triumph at the expense of Creamline’s four-game winning streak.

After the match, the Cuban wing spiker gave credit to the opposition.

“I’m so happy that we won this game, difficult game because Creamline is a very good team,” she said.

Despite the victory, the Gazz Angels remain in a must-win situation, which Salas acknowledged.

“For sure we want to fight in this second round so much because we know we need these games,” Salas said.

Creamline import Erica Staunton held the fort for the losing side with conference-best 30 markers, while rising star Bernadeth Pons was stellar on both ends with a triple-double of 26 excellent receptions, 19 excellent digs, and 17 points.

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PVL: Petro Gazz ends 3-game skid at Choco Mucho’s expense

The Petro Gazz Angels. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA (UPDATED) – Petro Gazz is finally out of the slump.

The Angels ended their three-game skid at Choco Mucho’s expense, 25-18, 25-21, 25-18, in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The trio of import Wilma Salas (18 points) and locals Brooke Van Sickle (17 points) and Myla Pablo (11 points) were in double-digit scoring for the red and white jerseys. But that offense was enabled by playmaker Chie Saet, who listed 15 excellent sets in the quick 1-hour, 34-minute faceoff.

This triumph gifts a bit of momentum for the defending champion as they enter the next round with a win, also avoiding a franchise-worst four-game losing streak.

But there was a reason for that slide — Pablo revealed to reporters that illnesses hampered their first round campaign.

“Andaming nagkasakit sa amin bago mag-start ‘yung mga games namin,” she said. “Si Wilma [Salas], si Brooke [Van Sickle], actually lahat nagkasakit pero sabi namin na parang ‘pag naka-recover naman tayo bumawi na lang tayo sa mga remaining games natin.”

The Gazz Angels just took it as part of the process and vowed to bounce back from the consecutive losses.

“Sabi nga namin na ‘wag tayo ma-down kasi ‘di pa tapos ‘yung laban. Kumbaga, proseso ng team ‘to, matalo, manalo basta’t heads up lang. ‘Yun nga sabi ni coach Koji [Tsuzurabara] na smile ‘pag sad ka, sinasabi mo lang kinagat daliri ganu’n.”

Still, they ended Pool B action with a 2-3 win-loss card at fourth place.

Petro Gazz soared past Choco Mucho in the opening chapter after a 7-0 run from an 18-all deadlock — sparked by a Van Sickle hit and concluded by a crosscourt kill from Salas.

Koji Tsuzurabara’s wards eventually took Set 2 after back-to-back Salas clutch hits from the 23-21 mark.

And then they pulled away in the final canto after a 10-6 start and never looked back.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila wag tayo mawalan ng pagasa, tulong tulong kami as a team,” said Pablo.

Meanwhile, the Flying Titans fell further at 1-4 and have absorbed two losses in a row.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat paced the losing team with 13 points, while Salas’ counterpart Zoi Faki only contributed an underwhelming three-point output.

PVL: Choco Mucho averts collapse, hands Chery Tiggo its 2nd loss

The Choco Mucho Flying Titans. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA (UPDATED) – Choco Mucho denied Chery Tiggo a monumental comeback to regain its winning ways in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.

The Flying Titans averted collapse in five sets, 25-16, 25-11, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12, to clinch only its second win on Tuesday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

They were coming from back-to-back losses to Petro Gazz and Capital1, which made this win a must to stay alive in the import-laden tourney.

“Sobrang happy ako sa naging performance kasi talagang kailangan namin talagang manalo dito sa laro na ‘to. Sobrang thankful ako kasi binigay sa ‘min,” coach Dante Alinsunurin said during the postgame press conference.

“Although, hindi (madali), talagang trinabaho din ng Chery Tiggo pero ngayon at least ngayon nakita namin na kahit papaano (kahit) na-down kami nang apat na talo pero lumalaban parin yung team kaya sobrang thankful ako sa naging performance namin,” he went on.

After a very slow start, the Crossovers got into their groove and took Set 3 off consecutive clutch hits from “Sakuragi-inspired” Ara Galang from the 23-all mark.

Chery Tiggo started strong in the fourth canto, 13-5, to ditch all Choco Mucho efforts to take the match in that frame and force a decider.

But in Set 5, it was the Flying Titans who made the better plays as they eked out a 4-0 run from a 4-all tie to pull away in the ballgame.

The Crossovers would still close within two, 14-12, off import Khat Bell’s down-the-line kill, but Deanna Wong perfectly set up Dindin Santiago-Manabat for a sharp attack to put a period in the five-set marathon.

Despite missing Alas Pilipinas players Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag, Mean Mendrez was there to lead the Choco Mucho offense with 18 points on 14 attacks, two blocks and a couple of aces to go along with 15 excellent receptions.

“For me lang po, super laking bagay sa akin na pagkatiwalaan ng coaches and siyempre ‘yung teammates ko na laging nandyan sa likod ko na feel na feel kong nakasuporta sila,” she said.

Santiago-Manabat and Maddie Madayag chipped in 17 and 11 markers, respectively.

Bell was still spectacular for coach Kungfu Reyes’ squad and paced them with 25 points.

Wilma Salas, Petro Gazz dedicate PVL run to late teammate Janisa Johnson

Petro Gazz import Wilma Salas. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA – It was Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson who helped Petro Gazz win its breakthrough Premier Volleyball League (PVL) championship during the 2019 Reinforced Conference.

A relationship formed like this, alongside teammates which she calls home, was why Salas holds Johnson, her fellow import for the Gazz Angels that tourney, close to her heart — a colleague, volleyball teammate, and more than that, a family.

Unfortunately, Johnson succumbed to colon cancer at the young age of 32, to the surprise of many in the local volleyball community, especially for the Gazz Angels.

Salas has come back to the Philippines to join the Gazz Angels once more and assist in defending the title they first claimed five years back.

She expressed that they will remember Johnson for every point they earn in this tournament.

“Well, for sure it’s sad because Janisa is no longer here in this life. I came back to the league in this conference for Janisa. So every point, every game, we think of Janisa,” Salas said.

“Her amazing smile, every time,” Salas answered when asked about what she misses the most about Johnson. “I missed it so much about JJ because she pushed with a smile every game,” she added. “I miss her so much.”

Moreover, Petro Gazz is like a home away from home, said Salas.

“I feel happy to come back to the Philippines. Every time I say Petro Gazz is like my home, my family, so I’m very excited about this conference,” the Cuban spiker said.

Salas eked out 15 points and 12 excellent receptions in her first game back to help the team to its first victory against ZUS Coffee on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

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