MANILA – Petron Blaze Spikers handed F2 Logistics Cargo Movers their first defeat in the 2018 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20 on Saturday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas led the way with 19 points while Bernadeth Pons and Cherry Rondina added 16 and 11 points, respectively, for the Blaze Spikers (4-0).
After losing the opening set, the Blaze Spikers came back strong in the second set with a 7-2 scoring run but the Cargo Movers rallied back to force a 13-all count. Since then, it was all Petron as Maizo waxed hot to build a 24-16 advantage.
The Blaze Spikers had another strong start in the third set but the Cargo Movers kept it close anew 10-11. Pons, Rondina and Maizo connived on offense to pull away 22-16.
Petron went for the kill in the fourth set for a 16-11 advantage. F2 Logistics came to as close as 13-16 but the Blaze Spikers pulled away for good with hits from Maizo and Rondina.
“Alam namin na importante iyong game ngayon para makita namin kung nasaan na kami as a team,” said Blaze Spikers head coach Ceseal delos Santos. “Naging maganda na iyong execution namin noong huling tatlong sets kaya happy kami.”
In the other match, Cignal HD Spikers hung on tight to survive the gritty Generika-Ayala Lifesavers in thrilling five sets 26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 20-25, 17-15 to regain their winning ways.
Despite trailing in the fifth set, the HD Spikers never wavered, especially Rachel Anne Daquis, who erased the two match point advantages of the Lifesavers to tie the decider, 15-all. An error by Lifesavers followed by an attack by AC Masangkay sealed the win./PN
