MANILA – Petron Blaze Spikers reached the semifinals of the 2018 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference after a 25-12, 25-14, 25-16 win over Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors in the quarterfinals Thursday night at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Frances Molina led the way with 15 points while Mary Remy Palma and Ilongga Aiza Maizo-Pontillas provided 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Blaze Spikers, the defending champions.
The Blaze Spikers, which won all of their 11 matches so far this conference, will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinal round against the winner in Cignal HD Spikers-Foton Tornadoes quarterfinal series.
The powerhouse Blaze Spikers were so dominant it built leads in each set before preventing the Lady Realtors from gaining confidence to finish the match in straight sets.
“Very focused and maganda iyong paggawa namin sa game plan,” said Blaze Spikers head coach Ceseal Delos Santos. “Sabi ko sa kanila na kailangan hindi tayo titigil and huwag lang natin bigyan ng kumpiyansa iyong kalaban.”
Meanwhile Generika-Ayala Lifesavers displayed their championship form as they clobbered Smart Giga Hitters in straight sets 25-16, 26-24, 25-22 to also clinch a ticket to the semifinals.
Mikaela Lopez dominated the middle, finishing with 16 points built on 11 kills, four blocks and an ace, while Marivic Meneses and Patty Jane Orendain added 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Lifesavers.
It will be the Lifesavers’ first semifinals stint since the franchise won the All-Filipino title and emerged as runner-up to Petron in the Grand Prix in 2014. They will wait for the winner of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers-Cocolife Asset Managers quarterfinal series./PN
