MANILA – Petron Blaze Spikers stretched their unbeaten streak in the 2019 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix to 12 after a 25-23, 25-13, 25-21 sweep over Generika-Ayala Lifesavers on Tuesday at San Juan Arena.
Stephanie Niemer top-scored with 19 points, while Mika Reyes and Katherine Bell chipped in 14 and 12 markers, respectively, for the defending champions Blaze Spikers, which are two wins away from sweeping the eliminations.
After easily winning the first two sets, the Blaze Spikers squandered a 17-7 lead in the third frame as the Lifesavers unleashed a 9-1 run capped by Marlyn Llagoso’s block on Reyes to trim it to within two, 18-16.
But Bell and Niemer increased the lead to 21-18 for the Blaze Spikers before Fiola Ceballos’ hit and Rhea Dimaculangan’s setting violation put Generika-Ayala just within one, 21-20.
A service error from Ceballos and Reyes’s quick attack gave the Blaze Spikers a 23-20 lead before Patty Orendain answered with a hit of her own but Niemer’s hit and Bell’s poweful backrow attack sealed the win for Petron.
“Generika played really well,” said Blaze Spikers head coach Ceseal Delos Santos. “Playing in a close game like this is very challenging for us. Good thing we were able to recover. We have to learn from this and realize that we can’t afford to struggle.”
Ilongga Ceballos finished with 11 points while Thai import Som Kuthaisong managed 10 markers for the Lifesavers, whose three-game winning run was snapped to slid down to 4-8./PN
