Petro Gazz motors up north in pursuit of a third straight win and a share of the lead with Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference elims as the Angels slug it out with the Nxled Chameleons in the third stop of the PVL on Tour in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
The Angels had a rather light draw to start their campaign in the centerpiece tournament of each PVL season, soaring past the Galeries Tower Highrisers and the Gerflor Defenders in a pair of three-set romps that practically didn’t demand the best from the two-time Reinforced Conference champions and runners-up in the first conference.
While ranged against another league newcomer, the Angels expect to encounter stiffer challenge from the likes of Lycha Ebon, Jho Maraguinot, Krich Macaslang, Camille Victoria, May Luna, Chiara Mae Permentilla, Judith Abil, Janine Navarro and playmaker Kamille Cal.
Nxled, handled by Japanese coach Taka Minowa, marked its league debut with a three-set win over Gerflor but faced and bowed to a solid F2 Logistics next. The Chameleons 6 p.m. match with the Angels will also test their character and resiliency this early stage of their campaign.
But expect Petro Gazz coach Timmy Sto. Tomas to motivate his stellar crew to work more efficiently since another victory will more than prepare them for the tougher grind ahead.
The Angels, led by Grethcel Soltones, Aiza Pontillas, Jonah Sabete, Ranya Musa, Kecelyn Galdones, Marian Buitre, Dzi Gervacio and Remy Palma, will next face the Cargo Movers on Nov. 2, clash with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Nov. 4, before renewing their rivalry with the Cool Smashers on Nov. 9.
Meanwhile, the Cargo Movers, back in the hunt after getting stunned by the surging Akari Chargers in 5, go for their second straight win against the Defenders in the 4 p.m. match of a twinbill that also marks the league’s return to Ilocos.
Chery Tiggo shocked Creamline to rule the Open Conference and become the country’s maiden pro volley club champion in bubble setup in Ilocos Norte in 2021.
Two weeks into the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision marked by matches in Batangas City and Antipolo, Creamline paces the record 12-team field with three victories with Akari in second (3-1), followed by Petro Gazz (2-0), PLDT, Chery Tiggo and Choco Mucho, which tote identical 2-1 slates, and F2 Logistics and Nxled, which both split their first two games.
Cignal upended PLDT in its first game but lost its next two to Creamline and Choco Mucho, while Galeries Tower, Gerflor and Farm Fresh remain winless in the tournament backed by Mikasa, BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, SMART, Rebisco, Milcu, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar, with 0-2, 0-3 and 0-4 cards, respectively.
Games can be streamed on Pilipinas Live and PVL.ph and are telecast on One Sports, One Sports+, and SMART Livestream app.