Games Tuesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2:30 p.m. – UAI-Army vs Choco Mucho

5:30 p.m. – Creamline vs F2 Logistics

Petro Gazz got the better of PLDT in a confusion-marred fourth set, pulling off a 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 27-25 victory to firm up its hold of the third spot in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference elims at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna Saturday.

The Angels survived two set points in the fourth and kept their composure after a long delay caused by a dispute over a play which PLDT coach George Pascua challenged that was however ruled unsuccessful.

The 2019 champions gained a crucial point from the unsuccessful challenge to force a tie at 24 before import Lindsey Vander Weide banged in a kill at resumption and the Angels snatched the win as MJ Phillips redeemed herself from an errant push in the previous play with a block off PLDT reinforcement Elena Samoilenko, who blew it all for the High Speed Hitters with a backrow attack mishit.

PLDT, however, didn't sign the scoresheet, automatically placing the outcome under protest although the league said PLDT must put its protest in writing one hour after the match to make it official.

The victory thus hiked Petro Gazz's record to 3-1 while dealing PLDT its fourth loss against a win, dampening the High Speed Hitters' semis chances in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

"They know how important this game is. I just told them to keep their focus on executing our instructions and getting the win. It showed that we really wanted the win," Petro Gazz coach Rald Ricafort said.

It was indeed a sorry setback for PLDT, which looked all set to forcing a decider after breaking away late in a tightly-fought fourth set to move at match point at 24-22.

But after the Angels pulled to within one, Pascua made a challenge while the ball was in play, claiming a net violation committed by a Petro Gazz player.