PETRON remained unbeaten and kept Smart winless, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24, on Friday in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Baliuag Star Arena in Bulacan.
Lindsay Stalzer, Frances Molina and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas showed the way as the Blaze Spikers scored their eighth win, two wins away from a sweep of the eliminations.
The Giga Hitters are winless in eight outings.
Stalzer, the Most Valuable Player in 2015, had 17 attacks and two aces for 19 points, while Molina and Maizo-Pontillas chipped in 13 markers apiece for Petron, which missed the services of American import Hillary Hurley who is still recovering from a mild injury.
“Smart gave us a very good fight,” said Mika Reyes, who led the defense in containing the high-scoring Gyselle Silva in the first two sets.
“Kudos to Gyselle Silva. Her heart was there, making sure that all her spikes would be converted into points. We were inspired to stop her. I told myself that I will block her no matter what.”
The Giga Hitters erected a five-point lead in the fourth set and threatened to stretch the match into a deciding set, 22-17.
Although Stalzer delivered three consecutive hits, Silva scored on back-to-back aces to give Smart the set point, 24-21.
Stalzer unloaded a powerful spike from the right wing before Chloe Cortez scored off a gift. Molina, then, uncorked a pair of spikes to give Petron the match point, 25-24.
Stalzer finished the match with an ace, towing the Blaze Spikers out of danger in a marathon match that lasted for one hour and 42 minutes.
Silva finished with 32 kills, two blocks and five aces to finish with 39 points, two points short of the record 41 points by Sara Klisura last year.
Sanja Trivunovic, submitted only 11 markers for the Giga Hitters.