Built as another chapter in a heated rivalry, the Petron Blaze Spikers only continued to dominate the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference, romping the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in Game One of the Finals, 25-23, 25-12, 25-17, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Petron looked in danger as F2 Logistics got off to a 19-13 start. But after slotting in sparkplug Sisi Rondina, the Blaze Spikers mounted a comeback, going on a 5-0 run to take a 23-22 lead. Petron then avoided a deuce thanks to a nifty combination play capped by Bernadeth Pons.
The Blaze Spikers dominated in the second set, before erasing another F2 Logistics lead in the third. Down 3-7, the Blaze Spikers went to Rondina, who delivered in a spurt that put her squad up for good, 18-13.
“Sabi ko nga sa players namin na kailangan maka-adjust and mag-stick lang kami sa game plan,” said Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos, whose team held all Cargo Movers to single digit scoring.
“Happy kami, pero hindi pa sobrang happy. Kailangan pa namin ng isang win para makamit ‘yung goal namin so doon muna kami naka-focus,” he added.
Petron equaled their league-record winning streak of 13, when they won the 2015 All-Filipino Conference. They will reset the record at 14 if they take the championship in Game Two on Tuesday at the same venue.
Rondina finished with 12 points to lead all scorers. Her fellow Bernadeth Pons added 10 markers and four excellent receptions.
Inivitational Cup MVP Ara Galang was F2 Logistics’ lone bright spot with nine points. The Cargo Movers gave up a season-high 27 errors.
The Scores
Petron (3) – Rondina 12, Pons 10, Palma 9, Pontillas 7, Reyes 7, Dimaculangan 2, Legacion 1, Molina 0, Duremdes (L), Gaiser (L)
F2 Logistics (0) – Galang 9, Baron 4, Behag 5, Fajardo 4, Dy 3, Morente 3, Luna 2, Maraño 2, Ogunsanya 1, Cobb 0, Macandili (L), Saga (L)
