Sta. Lucia stuns erstwhile-unbeaten Petron

Continuing their up-and-down 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix campaign, the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors knocked off their most formidable foes, sweeping the previously-undefeated Petron Blaze Spikers, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

The Lady Realtors controlled the match right from the first point. Sta. Lucia latched on to a 20-14 lead in the first set, before using a 7-2 rally to end the second frame.

Sta. Lucia then dominated the final set, with Canadian middle blocker Marissa Field tallying four of Sta. Lucia’s last five points to finish off the Blaze Spikers.

While Sta. Lucia’s steady serve reception was key, Petron’s 28 unforced errors opened the door for the Lady Realtors to dominate.

“Before today’s game, nag-mental training kami. Nakikita kasi naming nagkukulang kami sa mental toughness pagdating sa game,” answered Sta. Lucia head coach George Pascua when asked about his team’s resurgent play.

“Lagi naman kaming dumidikit sa kalaban. Nagkukulang lang talaga kami sa dulo. Sana, ma-carry over namin ito sa sunod naming laban,” the former head coach of Petron added.

Field finished with 10 points, while Bohdana Anisova topped the Lady Realtors with 14 markets.

Former PSL Most Valuable Player Lindsay Stalzer led Petron with 19 markers. Fellow American Hillary Hurley added 15.

Sta Lucia (4-5) face the winless Smart Prepaid (0-9) for their final second round assignment on Thursday, next week at the FilOil Flying V Centre. The Blaze Spikers (8-1) will try to put end their second round on a positive note when they take on the Cocolife Asset Managers (5-3) on Tuesday, also at the FilOil Flying V Centre.