Petro Gazz prevails over controversial calls, edges Choco Mucho closer to PVL finals return

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Petro Gazz nears a PVL finals comeback after averting late controversy on multiple inconclusive video challenges as Choco Mucho falls to the brink of elimination off consecutive collapses

MANILA, Philippines – Petro Gazz got one foot in the door of another PVL finals appearance after edging Choco Mucho in a controversial four-set semifinals escape, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 27-25, at the sold-out PhilSports Arena on Tuesday, April 1.

With the win, the Angels kept a solo hold of first place in the round robin semis with a 2-0 record and has a chance for an outright finals clincher with a win over Akari (1-1) on Thursday, April 3, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Flying Titans, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2 and now hope for a Petro Gazz win to send Akari to 1-2, on top of denying sister team Creamline (1-1) in the second Thursday game to force a playoff game between the two teams with superior ratios should a triple tie at 1-2 occur with these circumstances.

On the heels of a huge comeback from down 19-13 in the third set, Petro Gazz stormed its way to match point, 24-22, through an 11-2 barrage, ending with an Aiza Maizo-Pontillas cut shot over the defense.

Controversy in the clutch

Controversy ensued, however, as the Flying Titans’ Royse Tubino scored on a down-the-line hit to get within one, 24-23, that merited an immediate ball in-out challenge from the Angels.

After about three minutes, all the challenge committee could offer was a grainy and far angle that it ruled as ball in for Choco Mucho, causing an eruption of protests from the Petro Gazz side that demanded clearer angles and even offered phone video evidence.

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 1, 2025

The technical committee, however, denied outside sources and opted for a ball in-out referee’s challenge, which then showed – in a staggering case of bad luck – that Tubino’s shot was obstructed by Myla Pablo’s foot on one angle and the line judge’s flag in another, deeming the challenge inconclusive.

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 1, 2025

Petro Gazz, however, stayed composed amid a heated environment and dragged Choco Mucho to another match point, 25-24, off another Pontillas clutch hit, before Cherry Nunag forced a 25-all tie.

Pablo then refused a fifth set chance for the Flying Titans, as the two-time PVL MVP took it upon herself to hammer down consecutive through the block hits to hand Petro Gazz the tight 27-25 escape and the match win.

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 1, 2025

Reigning conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle led the exhausting win with a huge triple-double of 17 points, 22 excellent receptions, and 12 digs. MJ Phillips added 14 points, while Pablo anchored the net defense with 13 points hiked by 5 big blocks as Petro Gazz finished with 16 rejections overall.

“Choco Mucho did a fantastic job. Even their fans, it’s so cool to play in environments like that. Just so much energy. It’s hard to… It can be hard to focus but I thought we did a great job just staying calm and together, and as a team, we just talked about it,” Van Sickle said.

“Choco came out, they did a fantastic job. They’re physical. They’re digging balls, they’re jumping high, hitting hard. They’re just doing Choco Mucho things. For us, we just kept trying to stay grounded. Trying to stay patient. We knew it wasn’t going to be a pretty win. It was going to be a groveling, tiring win.”

Former MVP Sisi Rondina paced another heartbreaking loss with 25 points on an inefficient 19-of-75 attack clip as Choco Mucho failed to bounce back from a five-set collapse against Akari where it already led at match point, 14-11, last Saturday, March 29. – Rappler.com