Manila – Petron Blaze Spikers moved closer to retaining its 2018 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference crown after a 25-23, 25-12, 25-17 sweep over F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in Game 1 of the finals on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Cherry Rondina led the way with 12 points, including 11 attacks, while Negrense Bernadeth Pons and Mary Remy Palma combined for 19 markers for the defending champions Blaze Spikers.
The Game 1 victory equaled the Blaze Spikers’ league-record winning streak of 13 when they won the 2015 All-Filipino Conference. A win in Game 2 on Tuesday will set a new record for the franchise.
The Blaze Spikers did not get the start it wanted after falling 13-19 in the opening set but managed to claw its way back and take a 23-22 lead. Pons then came up with clutch hits to complete Petron’s turnaround.
The Blaze Spikers then had a dominant second set as it surged to an early double-digit lead and never looked back. In the third, Petron overhauled a 13-18 deficit before turning things around with consecutive points from Rondina.
“Sabi ko nga sa players kailangan maka-adjust and mag-stick lang kami sa gameplan,” said Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos. “Happy kami, pero hindi pa sobrang happy. Kailangan pa namin ng isang win para makamit ‘yung goal namin.”
Victorinara Galang was the lone bright spot for the Cargo Movers with nine points. F2 Logistics struggled heavily in the series opener after it gave up a season-high 27 miscues.
Meanwhile, Generika-Ayala Lifesavers came up with a strong finish as it made short work of Cignal HD Spikers, 25-12, 30-28, 25-13 in the bronze-medal match. Bacolodnon Patty Orendain had 16 markers to lead the way for the Lifesavers./PN
