Playing on friendly grounds at the De La Salle Lipa Sentrum, the Lady Spikers-powered Logistics heated up late and took care of the locked-in Petron Tri-Activ Spikers, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-8, in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference.
Just moments after Mika Reyes was awarded the seventh and final Golden Ticket, F2 Logistics used the energy of a raucous crowd to dismantle Petron in the first set.
They sputtered, however, in the following frames.
The Cargo Movers let a 22-15 lead slip in the second set, as Petron super subs Kyle Negrito and Mina Aganon led a set-clinching 10-1 run. F2 then allowed Petron to build an early 16-8 lead in the second set before rallying back. Thanks to Aby Maraño’s clutch play at the net, Petron’s lead dwindled down to one, 22-21. Aganon then sparked another decisive run, scoring twice in Petron’s late 3-1 rally.
The Cargo Movers responded in the fourth frame, as Maraño’s serving anchored a run that placed F2 comfortably ahead, 19-9. Heading into the fifth set with all the momentum, F2 pulled another splendid serving spell from Kim Dy, sprinting to an insurmountable 9-3 lead and the win.
“Kailangan talaga ng team ang nga ganitong klase ng challenge. Kapag napunta kami sa sitwasyon na na-down kami, alam namin kung paano kami gagalaw,” said F2 head coach Ramil De Jesus, whose team had beat Petron in the first round in straight sets.
Former UAAP MVP Ara Galang towed F2 with 20 points, while Maraño and Reyes added 12 and 10, respectively.
FEU standout Bernadeth Pons led Petron with 19 points. Aganon managed 12 markers, while Aiza Pontillas contributed 10.
F2 Logistics (2-0) have the chance to head into the semifinals undefeated as they face Foton (1-0) on Sunday for their final second round match. Petron (0-1) also take on Foton, but on Saturday.
The Scores
F2 Logistics (3) – Galang 20, Maraño 12, Reyes 10, Cruz 9, Dy 9, Fajardo 7, Mercado 4, Baron 2, Soyud 1, Gendrauli 0, Cheng (L), Macandili (L)
Petron (2) – Pons 19, Aganon 12, Pontillas 11, Molina 6, Palma 6, Rosario 5, Morada 4, Negrito 3, Masangkay 1, Nunag 0, Yongco 0, Reyes (L)
