The All-Filipino Conference champions F2 Logistics Cargo Movers pulled contributions from nearly everyone in their lineup to roll to their third straight win at the Generika Lifesavers’ expense, 25-17, 25-27, 25-19, 25-14, in the 2016Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The match opened with neither team seizing momentum due to their own miscues. F2 Logistics, however, broke away midway through the frame thanks to solid Aby Maraño serves, turning a 14-all deadlock to a 19-14 advantage.
It was Generika’s turn to pull away midway through the second set, as F2’s errors buoyed them to a 16-10 lead at the second technical timeout. The Cargo Movers then mounted a comeback, slowly hacking at Generika’s lead until they forced a 24-all deuce after a Polina Liutikova attack error. Ara Galang then powered home a cross-court smash to give the Cargo Movers a crack at set point, 25-24. But the Lifesavers caught a break after a string of F2 errors gave them back the lead, 26-25, setting up Liutikova’s set-winning kill.
Generika seemed to have control of the third set after taking a 13-11 lead. The Cargo Movers then hunkered down and served with heat, throwing off Generika’s offense. Solid serving stints from Majoy Baron, Ara Galang, and Cyd Demecillo powered an F2 blitz that gave them the lead for good, 22-15. Already deflated, Generika barely put up a fight in the fourth frame, allowing the Cargo Movers to seal an early double-digit lead and never look back.
Galang and import Hayley Spelman each tallied 15 points for the Cargo Movers, while Sydney Kemper added 12 markers.
F2 also pulled contributions from the locals off the bench, something F2 head coach Ramil De Jesus said came from the trust he has with his longtime players.
“Karamihan diyan (locals) naging player ko na for more than five years kaya alam ko na kung ano ‘yung kaya nila at kung ano makukuha ko sa kanila sa iba’t ibang sitwasyon,” De Jesus affirmed, though he mentioned he has yet to develop the optimal chemistry for his team.
Liutikova finished with 15 markers, while Darlene Ramdin and Shaya Adorador had 11 and 10 points for the Lifesavers, respectively.
F2 (6-3) faces RC Cola-Army (3-5) on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre. Generika (0-9) end their elimination round on Saturday against Cignal (1-6)
The Scores
F2 Logistics (3) – Galang 15, Spelman 15, Kemper 12, Fajardo 8, Maraño 8, Reyes 8, Baron 6, Cruz Ch. 1, Cheng 0, Demecillo 0, Navarro 0, Macandili (L)
Generika (1) – Liutikova 15, Ramdin 11, Adorador 10, Meneses 6, Cortez 5, De Leon 2, Casugod 1, Legacion 1, Tiu 0, Arado (L)
