LIPA City—Petro Gazz rebounded from its stunning loss to a team of high schoolers a day before by beating Tuguegarao-Perlas Spikers, 25-11, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20, on Thursday to secure the bronze medal in the PNVF Champions League Thursday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center.
Instead of being deflated, the Angels were determined to recover from last Wednesday’s five-set defeat at the hands of California Precision Sports that spiked them out of the championship race.
“Our mindset is to bounce back today. In our game last Wednesday, I have nothing to say and that’s why we wanted to bounce back,” middle blocker Ria Meneses said.
One of country’s best in her position, Meneses was in attack mode and went 18-of-31 spikes to finish with 19 points for the Angels.
Aware of the Perlas Spikers’ solid net defense, Meneses tinkered with her game to help Petro Gazz finish its campaign with a 3-2 win-loss record in the tournament has Rebisco, Pitmaster Foundation Inc., Top Speed, 1Pacman Partylist, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as platinum sponsors and F2 Logistics, Asics, PLDT, MVP Sports Foundation and Mikasa as gold sponsors and BCDA, Philippine Red Cross, Lipa City, Davis Paint and Emerald PVC Pipes, Fittings and Doors as silver sponsors with PNVF godfather, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Champions League, giving his full support.
“I think their spikers are very good. They know how to place the ball,” said Meneses, a national team mainstay. “I did my best and made my points through attacks.”
Ces Molina backed Meneses with 14 points to go with nine digs, Grethcel Soltones had 11 points and nine receptions and Jessey de Leon had two blocks for a 10-point outing for the Angels.
PetroGazz matched its bronze-medal finish in the Premiere Volleyball League Open Conference in Ilocos Norte in August.
“That’s good for our confidence. Despite everything, we were to achieve a podium finish,” said Meneses, whose team had to swallow a bitter 18-25, 12-15, 25-22, 25-14, 15-13 loss to CPS, the Antipolo City-based team composed of players no older than 19.
The Perlas Spikers, who paraded a different roster from their PVL campaign, wound up fourth with a 2-3 slate.
Heather Guino-o had 16 points with two blocks and Michelle Morente and Nicole Tiamzon scored 13 points each for the Perlas Spikers.