A nine-point deficit usually spells death in volleyball match
With the 2017 Chooks-to-Go/Philippine Superliga Grand Prix title hanging in the balance, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers were sunk in a nine-point hole, compounded by their other dire circumstances: Petron were in command of a one-game lead in the series and a 2-1 set-lead in Game Two.
With their season on the line, F2 Logistics proved that they were better than any nine-point deficit. The Cargo Movers adjusted their lineup, stuck to their defensive mentality, and locked down Petron.
F2 Logistics not only erased Petron’s giant lead, they also conquered the Blaze Spikers in five sets and forced a winner-take-all match for the championship.
Decorated head coach Ramil De Jesus conceded that his team had been in dire straits and he was pulling all the strings he could to revitalize his squad.
Luckily, his final adjustment clicked, slotting in struggling import Kennedy Bryan at opposite hitter and using Cha Cruz at open hitter. He also replaced decorated libero Dawn Macandili with second stringer Carmel Saga.
“Kumabaga, talagang sinugal na namin ‘yun,” De Jesus mused. “Buti na lang bumalik ‘yung sigla noong mga bata. Siguro, maaga nag-celebrate ‘yung Petron din. Pero, nilaban talaga ng mga players namin.
“Ayaw nila magpatalo agad.”
F2 Logistics now have the chance to claim the franchise’s first Grand Prix title. For Bryan, the formula is simple for success on Saturday.
“We really just need to make sure we take advantage of the momentum we gained,” said the American reinforcement.
“We limited them to very few points in the fifth set so we just need to make sure we do that again.”
For Game Three, De Jesus insists that he is pulling out all the stops and will try any lineup to get the win.
“Wala naman sa mga players ‘yan kung hindi sila magamit. Basta manalo.”
