PETRO Gazz and ZUS Coffee each have one last chance to barge into the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals come Game Three on Tuesday, 6 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.
READ PVL TAKEAWAYS: Bea de Leon's got Creamline middle on lock
With the series split at 1-1 and both wins coming in the form of sweeps, how this unlikely playoff duel will end remains too close to call as Creamline, Choco Mucho and Akari await the final entrant to the Final Four.
Before the all-important rubber match, here’s how this unlikely playoff series has played out so far.
ZUS Coffee struck first — and no one saw it coming
The Thunderbelles were riding on the highs of a two-game play-ins sweep, one that included a monumental upset over Cignal.
Even after such an huge win, the eventual No. 7 seed ZUS Coffee still entered its maiden PVL playoffs as the clear underdog against a streaking Angels side armed with a 10-game unbeaten run.
They’ve defied the odds once and did it again for their biggest franchise win yet in Game One by sweeping Petro Gazz, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25.
Chai Troncoso showed the way with 14 points. Thea Gagate and Jovelyn Gonzaga had 11 each while Mich Gamit and Chinnie Arroyo scored 10 apiece.
Petro Gazz still had a pair of strong performances from its MVP duo in Brooke Van Sickle (18 points, 13 digs, 11 receptions) and Myla Pablo (14 points), but just not enough to take the series-opener at the time.
Petro Gazz responds with sweep of its own in Antipolo
As Van Sickle’s special day — her 27th birthday — coincided with a win-or-go home Game Two, the reigning conference MVP had to put on a special performance to keep the Angels’ title dream alive.
In front of her parents Gary and Lisa who took the trip to Antipolo to watch her live, she did just that.
BVS went for 17 points and eight digs in their 25-19, 25-23, 28-26 Game Two victory to force a rubber match and steer Petro Gazz clear of a disastrous playoff sweep at upset-conscious ZUS Coffee’s hands.
A reactivated Jonah Sabete added much-needed support to the Angels’ offense with 11 points, similar to Pablo and middle blocker MJ Phillips.
Only Arroyo hit double figures with 10 as Troncoso and Gagate were held to eight markers each and Gonzaga to just seven.
Game One exemplified ZUS Coffee’s much-improved offense. Game Two showed the Petro Gazz team that went on a 10-game win run with an abundance of lethal scorers on hand.
What will the story be in Game Three?
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
