By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Petro Gazz Angels gave the Farm Fresh Foxies a tough reality check with a 25-21, 27-25, 25-19 beating in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday night, March 14.

Jonah Sabete showed the way for the Angels with 11 points, built on nine attacks and two blocks, while also contributing eight excellent digs to earn Player of the Game honors.

According to the Negros Occidental’s Escalante City-native, the Angels faced a tough challenge in the second set, where they overcame a 21-24 deficit to secure a 27-25 set win.

“Siguro parte na ng laro namin ‘yung maghabol,” Sabete said in a post-game interview.

“Ang mindset lang namin, kapag nalalamangan kami is pilitin lang namin dumikit ng dumikit hanggang sa makuha namin ‘yung lead,” she said.

“I am so very happy kasi ‘yun naman talaga ang trabaho namin eh, whether I am starting or coming off the bench, na kung ipasok ka, dapat mag-contribute ka,” she added.

With the victory, the Angels secured their fourth victory in five matches to remain in second place in the standings, while the Foxies sustained their third defeat in five games.

Meanwhile, Cherry Ann Rondina displayed her all-around game as the Choco Mucho Flying Titans scored a 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 triumph over the Cignal HD Spikers to remain undefeated in four matches.

The HD Spikers dropped to 3-1.

The diminutive Cebuana volleybelle finished with 23 points, including 22 attacks and a block, to go with eight excellent receptions and six excellent digs to be named Player of the Game for Choco Mucho.

According to the 5-foot-6 Rondina, the Flying Titans never expected the match against the erstwhile undefeated HD Spikers to end in straight sets, since the latter was also on a hot streak.

“Hindi ko rin masabi kanina na ganun ang game [straight sets] kasi nirerespeto talaga namin ang Cignal,” Rondina said in a post-game interview.

“Pero naka-mindset na kami na kailangan namin maipanalo ito,” she added./ASC, WDJ