Petro Gazz Angels’ veteran Chie Saet during Game 3 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Chie Saet has stayed with the Petro Gazz Angels long enough that her only desire is to lift an all-Filipino championship trophy.
“We won two championships. This is the only conference that we haven’t won yet,” said Saet.
The seasoned setter gave herself a chance to tick off that box, tossing 20 excellent sets in a 25-21, 25-19, 25-23 demolition of ZUS Coffee on Tuesday night in the PVL All-Filipino Conference that kept the Angels’ title dream alive.
Power-hitting Brooke Van Sickle showed she can lead the Angels to that goal after pelting the Thunderbelles with 24 points. Fellow hitters Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips and Jonah Sabete, also flaunted the scoring prowess that could prove vital in the team’s trophy hunt.
But for Saet, the drive to the title means something else.
“Soon, I will be retiring, so we have to give our best shot. We’re already here, we have to push harder,” said Saet of the semifinals-bound Petro Gazz.
The No. 2-ranked Angels won 10 straight games back in the elimination phase before the Thunderbelles sent them back to earth with a stunning Game 1 victory in the quarterfinals.
By surviving ZUS in another straight-sets triumph for the second straight outing, the Angels joined Choco Mucho, Akari and top-seeded Creamline in a single-round semifinals beginning Saturday.
Back-to-back hits by MJ Phillips down the middle created the buffer the Angels needed as they wasted no time seizing control of the opening set.
Van Sickle caught fire with a crosscourt smash and a drop shot, widening the Petro Gazz lead to 20-14. Gagate cut it down with a quick push, a kill block and Chinnie Arroyo’s long cross to the back row, but the Angels were patient enough to make it through the rally.
Creamline is next
Sabete returned a Chai Troncoso attack, followed by a pair of ZUS errors, before Aiza Maizo-Pontillas secured the set for the Angels with a corner flush.
“It’s hard playing them (Thunderbelles), but our hunger to be in the semifinals definitely transitioned today. We came out with more energy and challenged ourselves,” said Van Sickle.
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The semifinals begin on Saturday with the Flying Titans and the Chargers taking the Ynares Center Antipolo floor first before the Cool Smashers meet the Angels, who will play this deep in the playoffs for the ninth time since joining the league in 2018. INQ
