Petron’s prized signings showed what they can offer for the conference
Mika Reyes and Carmela Tunay led the Petron Blaze Spikers in a straight-set whopping of the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21, to end the opening day of the Invitational Cup, Saturday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Reyes and Tunay scored nine markers each with the latter scoring all of her points from attacks. Petron mainstay Ces Molina added eight markers.
“Maganda yung galaw kanina pero marami pa kaming kailangan i-improve,” said Petron head coach Shaq delos Santos, who traveled from Pasay to San Juan for this game. “Alam naman namin na kaya ng team namin [mag-contend]. Open naman yung mga players at masipag sa ensayo.”
Petron never trailed in the first two sets, picking up twin scorelines for a 2-0 lead. In the third set, however, the Blaze Spikers had a tough time closing out the young Lady Realtors, a team composed of the best from the NCAA.
“Yung kalaban, aggressive talaga kasi mga bata. Yung eagerness nilang manalo nandun,” Delos Santos said about the league neophytes.
Tied at 18-all, Petron were able to break away, while a service ace by Rhea Dimaculangan sealed the game.
“Yung sa amin, yung galaw lang namin medyo mabagal. Yun yung gusto naming ma-improve. Alam naman namin na kung gugustuhin nila kaya,” Delos Santos remarked about what they need to work on in the following weeks.
Perpetual standout Lourdes Clemente paced Sta. Lucia with seven points, while the Benilde tandem of Ranya Musa and Jannine Navarro scored six points each.
Petron take on the Cignal HD Spikers on Thursday, March 9, at the Filoil Flying V Centre. Sta. Lucia, on the other hand, will have a one week break before facing the same opponent on Saturday, March 11, at the Malolos Sports Complex in Bulacan.
The Scores:
Petron (3) – Reyes 9, Tunay 9, Molina 8, Aganon 7, Pontillas 6, Pineda 4, Rosario 3, Zapanta 2, Hingpit 2, Dimaculangan 2, Dolar 0, Dusaran (L).
Sta. Lucia (0) – Clemente 7, Musa 6, Navarro 6, Imbo 6, Sante 4, Cheng 3, Sabete 2, Austero 1, Henson 1, Umandal 0, Gual 0, Torres L, Enclona 0.
