In a tense duel of spurts, blocks, and guts, PLDT Home Fibr squeaked out a tough 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 16-14 decision to boost its own semis bid while sending Petro Gazz to the brink in the other game.
The High Speed Hitters blew a huge six-point lead in the fifth set but pounced on the Angels' mishits in the nerve-wracking finish, including a MJ Phillips service error that shattered the 14-all count and a costly blunder that enabled the former to escape with the win.
Serving for the match, Heather Guino-o clinched the game-winner for PLDT when the Angels misjudged the flight of the ball, which sailed long but dropped just right on the baseline, triggering a frenzied celebration for the High Speed Hitters and a dejection for the stunned Angels.
It was a big bounce-back win for the High Speed Hitters, who tripped the depleted Chery Tiggo Crossovers but got ripped by the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers, hiking their record to 2-1 for a share of third with the Lady Troopers behind the unbeaten Cignal HD Spikers (3-0) and Cool Smashers (2-0).
Petro Gazz, which finished second to Creamline in the Open Conference, absorbed its third straight defeat following earlier setbacks to Creamline and Army as it joined Chery Tiggo at the bottom of the seven-team field.
The Angels forced the decider with an imposing fourth set romp but the High Speed Hitters, through Mika Reyes' three points on quick hits and the team's superb blocking, stormed ahead at 9-3 on a 6-1 binge.
But Petro Gazz refused to give up and rattled PLDT with its own cluster of hits - six straight that tied the count at 9 before the High Speed Hitters uncorked another three-point run to regain control.
PLDT moved to match point at 14-11 on a Joy Soyud off-speed hit, ending a long furious rally but the Angels saved three match points on a Phillips' hit off a broken play, a Nicole Tiamzon blast and a Soyud attack error.
But Phillips blew their chance on a serve that slammed into the net and the Angels squandered it all on a poor decision off Guino-o's own serve.
