After suffering their first loss of the season, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers needed to make a statement.
A determined and focused F2 Logistics crew displayed consistency in a three-set sweep of the Petron Tri-activ Spikers, 25-18, 25-15, 25-13, to book the second finals seat in the 2016 PSL All-Filipino Conference, Saturday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
UAAP Season 78 finals MVP Kim Dy and Aby Marano led the F2 charge with 12 markers each. Dy scored nine from kills and two from blocks, while Marano splits include eight kills and a couple of blocks as well.
“Ang goal talaga namin is pumasok sa finals,” said a stoic F2 Logistics head coach Ramil de Jesus about the team’s mindset entering the season.
The Cargo Movers played catch-up early in the first set, going down by as much as four 10-14. After a cross-court kill, followed by a tip by Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, gave Petron an 18-16 edge, the Cargo Movers defense locked in. A service error by Maica Morado and a block by Marano against Pontillas tied the game at 18-all. The Cargo Movers continued to surge in a 9-0 rally capped by two Petron errors, to take the set and the lead.
“Nung nakuha namin yung first set siguro,” De Jesus said. “Down kami nun, nung inabot namin yung score nila na-down na siguro sila. Tapos nung second set, hindi na nakabangon.”
Demoralized, Petron’s floor defense caved in the second set. Already leading 15-12, the Cargo Movers went on a blistering rally. Back-to-back running attacks by Marano led the run followed by successive aces by Ara Galang. Kim Dy then capped the rally to give F2 a 22-12 lead. During the rally, Dawn Macandili anchored the stingy Cargo Mover’s defense. A emphatic kill by Marano led to another set for F2.
It was all F2 Logistics in the third and deciding set, as they led by as much as 11 points midway, 21-10. A running attack by Marano, another ace by Galang, and a down-the-line conversion by Marano in succession gave the Cargo Movers match point. After an ace by Cherry Nunag, a drop from the second ball by Kim Fajardo booked another finals seat for coach Ramil de Jesus and the Cargo Movers.
Cha Cruz added 10 points for the Yellow and Black, while Majoy Baron, who had stepped in for the injured Mika Reyes, added seven.
“Si Mika medyo injured kaya si Majoy ang ginamit ngayon,” the UAAP champion coach disclosed about Reyes. “Hamstring injury. Tapos na yung practice namin, na-overstretch nung cool down last Tuesday.”
No Tri-Activ Spiker scored in double-figures. Maizo-Pontillas was the high-point woman for Petron with eight markers, from seven kills and one block – the sole block of Petron in the game. On the other hand, the Cargo Movers had seven blocks.
Looking forward to the Finals series against the Foton Tornadoes that will start on Thursday, August 18, De Jesus shared that maturity will be the deciding factor for Game One.
“Mas kelangan pa yung maturity. Sa game one, kung sino ang maglaro ng mas mature ang makakuha ng laro,” he concluded.
The Scores:
F2 Logistics (3) – Dy 12, Marano 12, Cruz 10, Galang 8, Baron 7, Fajardo 5, Reyes 0, Opp Error 21, Macandili (L)
Petron (0) – Pontillas 8, Molina 6. Pons 5, Palma 3, Morada 3, Nunag 2, Aganon 2, Negrito 0, Yongco 0, Rosario 0, Masangkay 0, Opp Error 17, Reyes (L), Molina (L)
