Continuing their dominant surge through the 2019 PSL All Filipino Conference, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers ripped the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors in straight sets, 25-15, 25-14, 25-21, Thursday afternoon at the Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center in Silay City.
The Cargo Movers kept their record spotless after six games.
Still, F2 Logistics head coach Ramil De Jesus said that no matter how commendable their record may be in the elimination round, it won’t matter much in the next round. Instead, he wants his wards to build morale early in the season, which will come in handy come the latter stages of the tourney.
“Sabi ko nga last time, hindi naman mahalaga (yung record dito) sa eliminations. Confidence lang hinahanap namin dito,” De Jesus bared.
“Hindi basehan yung panalo. Pagdating ng quarterfinal, yun ang pinaka-importante kung masilat ka doon o manalo ka doon. Walang number one o number two kapag natalo ka. Yun ang mabigat,” he added.
Except for a crucial juncture in the third set, the Lady Realtors never got close to the Cargo Movers late in each of the sets as F2 Logistics flaunted its high-octane offense over Sta. Lucia, which absorbed its fifth straight loss in six matches.
The Lady Realtors, however, hang on with the Cargo Movers midway into the third set after receiving leverage from a string of costly errors from the F2 Logistics’ side. After Desiree Cheng committed a service error, Sta. Lucia knocked within one, 16-17.
Though Kalei Mau unloaded a smash that restored order for her squad and incited a 3-0 run, it was still not enough to douse the fire out of Sta. Lucia. The Lady Realtors yet again trimmed the deficit to a solitary point at 20-21 but that proved to be their last hurrah, as Mich Morente catalyzed a match-clinching 4-0 spurt that sealed the deal for the Cargo Movers.
Mau led the way for F2 Logistics anew, tallying 14 points, three of which coming from aces, laced with 13 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions.
Ara Galang notched 10 of her 11 points in the spiking department, while team captain Aby Maraño added 10 points spiked by two blocks and an ace. Michelle Cobb glued things together for the Cargo Movers, tossing 20 excellent sets.
No Lady Realtor graced twin-digit territory. Rachel Austero, MJ Phillips and Roselle Baliton finished with five points each. Amanda Villanueva lagged a point behind with four markers.
F2 Logistics will try to keep their slate spotless as they face the win-hungry Marinerang Pilipina on July 11, Thursday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center. Sta. Lucia, meanwhile, will seek a bounce-back win over Petron on July 13, Saturday at the Alonte Sports Center.
