Petro Gazz stuns Choco Mucho with gritty comeback win to close PVL On Tour prelims

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Petro Gazz regained its rhythm and finished the preliminaries of the PVL On Tour on a high note, storming back from a set down to frustrate Choco Mucho in a statement 20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17 win Tuesday night, July 29, at the Candon City Arena.

Although the victory came too late to impact its Pool A ranking, it gave the Angels a crucial confidence boost after two straight losses. With a 2-3 record, Petro Gazz clinched the No. 4 spot in Pool A and will face Pool B’s No. 5 seed Akari in the knockout round.

Nicole Tiamzon tallied 16 points and 12 digs to earn Best Player of the Game in Petro Gazz’s comeback win. [PVL Images]

Momentum restored with defense and resolve

The win was more than a morale lifter—it was a reminder of Petro Gazz’s championship pedigree. Nicole Tiamzon led the charge with 16 points and 12 excellent digs to earn Best Player of the Game honors.

“Focus lang, I just had to play my game,” said Tiamzon, who admitted the team is adjusting following the departure of former head coach Koji Tsuzurabara.

Veteran Myla Pablo delivered 23 points and 16 excellent receptions, capping her night with a clever backrow kill to seal the win. Aiza Pontillas and Ranya Musa chipped in 10 points each, while Joy Dacoron and Jonah Sabete combined for 11 more.

Despite 26 unforced errors, Petro Gazz outclassed Choco Mucho in attacks (57-47), blocks (13-8), and service aces (7). The Angels overcame a late fourth-set deficit with an 8-0 run powered by Pablo, Tiamzon, Musa, and AA Adolfo.

Esquibel’s debut and Pineda’s return spark Petro Gazz

The win also marked a successful first outing for interim head coach Brian Esquibel, who praised the team’s resilience during long rallies and credited the players’ championship heart.

Veteran libero Bang Pineda made her return to Petro Gazz after a stint with Akari, tallying 13 excellent digs and 12 receptions while sharing defensive duties with Jellie Tempiatura.

For Choco Mucho, the loss dropped them to 1-4 and a fifth-place finish in Pool A. Despite strong efforts from Cherry Nunag (17 points), Ayesha Juegos (16), and Royse Tubino (13), the Flying Titans fell apart after winning the opening set. They now prepare for a knockout clash against ZUS Coffee, Pool B’s No. 4 seed.

Meanwhile, PLDT (5-0) and Nxled (4-1) advanced outright in Pool A. In Pool B, Creamline and Cignal secured the top two seeds.