Generika-Ayala soars to best finish, grabs bronze from Cignal HD

The Generika-Ayala Lifesavers finished 2018 resoundingly, bringing home the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference bronze after sweeping the Cignal HD Spikers, 25-12, 30-28, 25-13, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

This marks Generika’s best finish since returning to the PSL in 2016. They have beaten their previous 5th place performance in the 2018 Invitational Cup.

Generika-Ayala came out of the gates determined despite their recent heartbreaking five-set loss to F2 Logistics in the semis.

The Lifesavers easily built a double-digit lead in the first set, before staving off a late Cignal rally in the second set. Patty Orendain – Generika’s second-set savior – powered the Lifesavers’ finishing flurry in the third set.

“Maganda lang siguro ‘yung gising namin. Lahat talaga ng mga players very ready and lumabas ‘yung sense of urgency,” said Generika head coach Sherwin Meneses.

“Hindi namin na-expect talaga na aabot kami sa ganitong finish. ‘Yung credit talaga nasa mga players na sobrang sipag,” the youthful mentor added.

Orendain finished with 16 points, while captain Angeli Araneta added 13 for the Lifesavers.

Royse Tubino fired in 15 markers for the HD Spikers, who earned bronze in the Invitational.

The Scores

Generika-Ayala (3) – Orendain 16, Araneta 13, Ceballos 10, Meneses 9, Hingpit 4, Lopez 3, Cerveza 0, Lavitoria 0, Pineda 0, Arado (L)

Cignal HD (0) – Tubino 15, Daquis 10, Malaluan 4, Doria 3, Paat 3, Vivas 3, Aguilar 1, Macatuno 1, Masangkay 0, Salamagos 0, Dionela (L)