THE Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors and Petro Gazz Angels collide in a key Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference match, carrying playoff implications, at the PCV Socio-Civic & Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, on Thursday.
The teams, currently having an inside track at a semifinal berth, face off at 7 p.m. where they hope to solidify their push for a spot in the next round.
Sta. Lucia is at fifth place with a 5-3 record while Petro Gazz is at joint third with a 5-2 card.
A win would assure them of at least a playoff for a semifinal spot if not direct entry to the final four of the ongoing tournament.
The Lady Realtors padded their push with a straight sets win, 25-13, 25-18, 25-16, over the Perlas Spikers on Aug. 3.
MJ Phillips and Jovielyn Prado showed the way for Sta. Lucia in the victory, finishing with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Mika Reyes and Jonah Sabete added nine each.
“It will be do-or-die for us in the next game as it will determine if we will get a chance to enter the playoffs or not. We will try to take our fate in our own hands and let’s see what happens,” said Ms. Reyes of their crucial match against Petro Gazz.
The Angels, for their part, defeated the Balipure Water Defenders in straight sets, 25-20, 26-24, 25-23, also on Tuesday to stay within the top four in the standings heading into the homestretch of elimination play.
Grethcel Soltones led the balanced attack by Petro Gazz in the shutout win, finishing with 14 points, nine coming off attacks.
Ria Meneses had eight points for the Angels while Myla Pablo and Jerrilli Malabanan added seven apiece.
Also playing on Thursday are Balipure (2-5) and PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters (1-6) at 1 p.m. and Black Mamba Army (2-4) against Perlas (1-5) at 4 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo