Surging Petro Gazz seeks top spot

MANILA, Philippines — Are the Petro Gazz Angels ripe for a breakthrough PVL All-Filipino Conference title?

It appears so as Petro Gazz, already in the semis and peaking at the right time, try to pick up another win at the expense of Nxled today in the last elimination-round playdate at the PhilSports Arena.

Assured of a semifinal seat with an 8-2 mark, the Angels shoot for their fifth win in a row and ninth overall that would give them the top seeding and greater momentum towards the single-round robin semis.

Game time is at 4 p.m.

“Gusto lang namin to finish strong sa elimination,” said Petro Gazz team captain Remy Palma.

It will be a return trip to the semis for Petro Gazz, which is now coached by Japanese Koji Tsuzurabara, after missing the cut the last two conferences.

Its last semis stint came in last year’s first All-Filipino Conference when it eventually finished runner up behind Creamline.

The Angels are gunning for that finals berth again for a shot at a third title and their first Open or All-Filipino crown.

Petro Gazz’ first two titles came in the Reinforced Conference in 2019 and 2022.

It may just come at this conference.

Also scheduled for today are non-bearing matches pitting Cignal (6-4) with Capital1 Solar (1-9) at 2 p.m. and Akari (4-6) with Strong Group Athletics (0-10) at 6 p.m.