PVL leaderboard crowded at the top

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo took care of business as they caught up with Creamline and Choco Mucho at the helm and boosted their semifinal stocks in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

Brooke Van Sickle went on a spiking clinic again as she spewed a match-high 17 points including 13 off attacks as the Angels swooped down on the Galeries Highrisers and hammered out a 25-7, 25-21, 25-17 decision that sealed their eighth win in 10 outings.

For the Crossovers, they softened the Aka ri Chargers first before going for the kill in a 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 triumph that propelled them to No. 1 alongside the Cool Smashers, Flying Titans and the Angels.

It stretched Chery Tiggo’s amazing streak to six that turned things around after starting the conference with a disappointing 2-2 slate that was marred by a stinging straight-set defeat to Farm Fresh more than a month ago.

Now the Crossovers would advance to the single-round robin semis if it could hurdle Galeries Tower in its final elimination-round assignment Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

If they make it that far, they would be in the running for a shot at their second league crown since going all the way in the Bacarra, Ilocos Norte bubble three years back.

“Thankful sa teammates ko na dedicated, committed and disciplined kasi we have to start from within and believe in ourselves whether mahirap pumasok sa semis. Kaya yan magawa if magtutulungan,” said Chery Tiggo skipper Aby Maraño.