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[av_heading heading=’Petron trumps F2 Logistics to grab Superliga solo lead ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Petron Tri-Activ Spikers stayed unbeaten in the 2016 Asics Philippine Superliga Grand Prix with a 25-17, 25-22, 25-19 win over the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Tuesday at the San Juan Arena.
Reinforcement Stephanie Niemer led the way with 21 points, on 15 attacks, four service aces and two blocks for the Tri-Activ Spikers, which clinched the solo lead in the standings at 2-0.
“We’re still working on our chemistry right now,” said Tri-Activ Spikers head coach Ceseal Delos Santos. “Hopefully we gain the championship form we had in the past two years.”
The Tri-Activ Spikers opened the match with a 5-1 lead behind Niemer, but the Cargo Movers responded behind Kim Fajardo and Cha Cruz to tie the score at 9-all. The Tri-Activ Spikers regained the lead at 16-12 behind Niemer and Serena Warner.
After the break, the Tri-Activ Spikers widened the lead to 20-13 courtesy of Frances Molina and Ilongga Aiza Maizo-Pontillas. The Cargo Movers made its last push to come to within five points but Niemer and Warner ended the set with back-to-back hits.
Errors by the Cargo Movers to start the second set allowed the Tri-Activ Spikers to take an 8-5 lead. The lead later grew to 12-7 but the Cargo Movers kept it close at 14-12 on a Cruz hit.
The Cargo Movers rallied further to tie the score at 18-all, but three crucial errors by F@ Logistics allowed the Tri-Activ Spikers to build a 22-18 lead. The Cargo Movers tied the score anew at 22-all but back-to-back hits by Niemer and Warner closed the set.
The Tri-Activ Spikers stayed hot in the third frame as it jumped to a 10-3 lead. The Cargo Movers tried to trim the deficit behind Ilongga Abigail Maraño and Sydney Kemper but the Tri-Activ Spikers upped the lead to 16-7 on an off-the-block hit by Molina.
After the second technical timeout, the Tri-Activ Spikers was able to increase the lead to 20-11 on conversions by Niemer and Warner. The Cargo Movers cut the gap to 22-16, but an error by Maraño followed by two straight Molina hits ended the match.
The All-Filipino Conference champions Cargo Movers, which is still waiting for the arrival of its second import Hayley Spelman, slid down to last place with a 0-2 win-loss record./PN
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