THE Petro Gazz Angels opened the 2021 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference campaign with a 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21 win over the Black Mamba-Philippine Army Lady Troopers at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Baccara, Ilocos Norte on Sunday.Gretchel Soltones guided the Angels to the victory with 18 points while Ria Meneses and Myla Pablo put up 16 markers each in the game, which was halted for 3 hours and 40 minutes due to heavy rain that caused water to drip from the roof and make the floor slippery.Play stopped at 4:46 p.m. when Petro Gazz was up by a set and 4-1 in the second. The stoppage worked to the advantage of the Lady Troopers that went on to launch a 6-1 run in the clutch to take a 23-20 lead and eventually win the second set.The Angels regained the driver's seat in the third set thanks to Myla Pablo doing the bulk of the damage to the Lady Troopers.Petro Gazz led, 20-14, in the fourth set, but Black Mamba got within one, following a 6-1 run. However, it was also the Lady Troopers' own doing that cost the team the game, committing errors that allowed the Angels to take the win.Jovelyn Gonzaga cashed in 17 points for Black Mamba as Joanne Bunag unloaded 14 points in the loss.Petro Gazz takes on the Creamline Cool Smashers next on Tuesday at 4 p.m while Black Mamba faces the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders on the same day at 7 p.m.
