The Petron Blaze Spikers won the right to defend their crown after breezing past the Cignal HD Spikers in the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference semis, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16, at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
Petron were unrelenting, leading for most of the match and quickly snuffing out Cignal’s second set rally. The Blaze Spikers did most of their damage from the service line, tallying seven aces, and coaxed Cignal HD to 22 errors.
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos lauded Petron’s splendid play, as they have yet to give up a set since entering the quarterfinals. But the National Team head coach remains wary of their familiar Finals foes in the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
“Happy kami na makapasok sa Finals. But of course, championship talaga ang goal, so alam namin na hindi pa kami tapos sa larong ‘to. Kahit gaano naman kaganda ang laro namin, ibang usapan na sa Finals and kalaban pa ang F2,” Delos Santos pointed out.
Bernadeth Pons fired in 14 points to lead Petron. Mika Reyes and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas each tallied nine markers.
Rachel Daquis topped Cignal HD with 18 points. Opposite hitter Mylene Paat was limited to five markers.
Petron and F2 Logistics face off in the Finals for the fifth time, each having won two apiece. Game One of the best-of-three series is slated on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Cignal will face the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers for bronze, also on Saturday.
The Scores
Petron (3) – Pons 14, Pontillas 9, Reyes 9, Molina 6, Palma 5, Rondina 5, Dimaculangan 2, Cortez 1, Pabayo 1, Tunay 1, Alcayde 0, Duremdes (L), Gaiser (L)
Cignal HD (0) – Daquis 18, Doria 7, Paat 5, Tubino 5, Salamagos 3, Navarro 2, Aguilar 1, Malaluan 1, Masangkay 1, Vivas 1, Macatuno 0, Dionela (L)
