Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

News

Foton whips depleted F2 Logistics in GP opener


Defending champion Foton Tornadoes avenged their All-Filipino Conference Finals loss to the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers with a 25-18, 25-20, 25-15 victory in the opener of the 2016 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix, Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

The Tornadoes, who had absorbed a painful Game 3 lost in the All-Filipino Finals, began their championship defense bid strongly, walloping the Cargo Movers, who only had one import in Sydney Kemper and missed Ara Galang due to a minor right knee operation.

Foton American imports Ariel Usher and reigning Grand Prix Most Valuable Player Lindsay Stalzer, who were with the team since their 2016 AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship campaign last month, provided the punishing blow to lead their squad in its first win.

Usher led the charge with 20 points highlighted by 19 spikes, while Stalzer had 13 attacks, a pair of service aces and a block for 16 points, including seven digs and six excellent receptions. Jaja Santiago also stood out adding nine points.

“This result, 3-0, is okay but for my opinion this is not maximum for my team. This is only 50 to 60 percent,” said Foton head coach Moro Branislav. “But I respect F2 Logistics, they are good too even they only played with one domestic player. This is just the first match.”

The Tornadoes, after convincingly taking the first set, brought enough momentum to mount a 23-17 lead before the Cargo Movers fought back and scored three straight points, keeping Foton within striking distance, 23-20 in the second frame. Stalzer and Usher provided back-to-back hits to give their team a 2-0 sets advantage.

#ReadMore  Kim Fajardo glad to have Iris Tolenada on her side as she recovers

Foton trailed in the third set, 3-7, but the team responded right away with eight straight points to gain the lead, 11-7. Stalzer, Usher and Santiago then led a rampage, building a 23-13 advantage. With a huge lead, Dindin Santiago-Manabat made her return to the league for the first time after her pregnancy, but F2 Logistics scored two more points before Usher sealed the win with back-to-back hits.

Foton only had nine errors in the match while forcing 17 miscues from F2 Logistics.

Kemper, the lone import of F2 Logistics, was only limited to seven points, as Aby Marano stepped up for the Cargo Movers with 12 points in a losing cause. Skipper Cha Cruz and Majoy Baron added nine and eight markers, respectively.

Their second import Hailey Dora Spelman is expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday.

The Scores

Foton (3) – Usher 20, Stalzer 16, Santiago 9, Ortiz 5, Dimaculangan 4, Araneta 3, Orendain 1, Manabat 0, General (L)

F2 Logistics (0) – Maraño 12, Cruz Ch. 9, Baron 8, Kemper 7, Dy 4, Fajardo 2, Navarro 1, Reyes 1, Cheng 0, Demecillo 0, Cruz Ci. (L), Macandili (L)

Written By


You May Also Like

ADMU

Defending champion National University; league-leaders Far Eastern University and De La Salle University; and University of Santo Tomas all clinched semifinal spots in the...

ADMU

De La Salle University extended its dominant run in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship, defeating the University of the East, 23-25,...

ESports

By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen During the MPL Philippines Season 14 Playoffs lower bracket finals matchup between Aurora and Falcons AP, Chery Tiggo blocker Aby...

News

Once rivals, Khat Bell is ecstatic to finally have Ara Galang on the same side of the Taraflex for her Philippine volleyball return with...

News

PLDT is set to welcome back middle blocker Mika Reyes but will miss the services of veteran playmaker Rhea Dimaculangan in the upcoming 2024...

News

Julia Coronel, chosen as the No. 3 pick by Galeries, attributed the success of the Lady Spikers in sweeping the first four overall picks...

DLSU

History repeated itself for the University of Santo Tomas. Just like they did five years ago, the second-seeded Golden Tigresses dethroned the third-ranked De...

News

Creamline became the first team to enter the finals after sweeping Chery Tiggo, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, in the round-robin semifinals of the 2024 Premier...

Advertisement