The Petron Blaze Spikers overcame a sluggish start to pull off a 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-19 victory over arch-rivals F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, Saturday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
With their three-game loss to F2 Logistics last year still fresh, Americans Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley were impressive as they helped the Blaze Spikers remain unscathed in four matches.
Stalzer and Hurley had 19 kills apiece to finish with 21 and 20 points, respectively, for the Blaze Spikers, who started out slow before catching fire at the attack zone in the second and third sets.
But the locals helped seal the match-up in the deciding fourth set.
Ces Molina, who had eight markers, qulled the Cargo Movers during that frame, even sending the Blaze Spikers to match point, 24-18.
MJ Perez, the Most Valuable Player when the Cargo Movers defeated the Blaze Spikers in the finals last year, emerged with 21 points.
Kennedy Bryan had 18 for F2 Logistics, which dominated the block department, 12-6, but was outgunned at the attack zone, 49-56.
The Cargo Movers fell to 1-1.
The Scores:
Petron (3) – Stalzer 21, Hurley 20, Reyes 8, Molina 8, Cortez 5, Maizo-Pontillas 4, Palma 1, Dimaculangan 1, Fukuda (L)
F2 Logistics (1) – Perez 21, Bryan 18, Marano 10, Cruz 9, Nunag 6, Clemente 2, Fajardo 1, Galang 0, Morente 0, Yoshioka (L)
