Petron completes prelims sweep, stifles Smart

The Petron Blaze Spikers rolled to a sweep of the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference preliminary round, handling the Smart Giga Hitters, 25-23, 25-13, 25-12, at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Petron swept the preliminary round for the first time after their tournament sweep of the 2015 All-Filipino Cup.

Head coach Shaq Delos Santos hopes this sweep also lead to a title.

“Siyempre, blessing na maka-sweep. Pero kailangan focus pa rin kami sa goal na championship. Bonus lang na hindi ka matalo. Pero, ang importante every game nakakapag-improve kami,” said Delos Santos.

Middle blocker Remy Palma topped the Blaze Spikers with 15 points, which included five aces. Mika Reyes and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas each managed 11 points.

Jerrili Malabanan managed seven markers for Smart, while Aiko Urdas added six.

Smart currently sit in sixth place with a 4-6 record.

The Scores

Petron (3) – Palma 15, Pontillas 11, Reyes 11, Pons 7, Molina 6, Rondina 4, Dimaculangan 2, Tunay 2, Cortez 1, Legacion 1, Pabayo 0, Duremdes (L), Gaiser (L)

Smart (0) – Malabanan 7, Urdas 6, Domingo 5, Nabor 3, Villegas 3, Latigay 1, Macabalitao 1, Cayuna 0, Singh 0, Eroa (L)