The Generika Lifesavers nearly blew a 2-1 lead but managed to clean up their act and bring home fifth place over the Cignal HD Spikers 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 15-7 in the final match in Group B of the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference in the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Both teams had their share of struggles with passing and offensive execution. The match came down to who could strike first in each set and limit their miscues.
Generika looked to have the match in hand as their middle-focused attack led to a 2-1 sets lead. But, to the frustration of their head coach Francis Vicente, the Lifesavers veered away from their prescribed gameplan and allowed Cignal to force a fifth set.
“Bata pa talaga ang team ko. Kung anong sabihin mo sa kanila sa timeouts, sa gameplan, hindi nila agad nasusunod,” said Generika head coach Francis Vicente. “Pero noong fifth set naka-recover naman which is maganda panuorin kasi nakita ko silang nagrespond sa ganoong game situation.”
Generika finished their season with a flourish in te do-or-die fifth set, slamming Cignal with an 11-4 lead through solid play at the net. The HD Spikers tried to comeback but their own service errors doomed their season.
Rookie Geneveve Casugod led her young teammates with 20 points off 17 attacks and three blocks. UST standouts Chloe Cortez and Ria Meneses added 16 and 14 points, respectively while former La Salle Lady Spiker Wensh Tiu managed 12 markers.
“Magandang simula ito para sa amin. ‘Yung experience namin dito ay malaki ang maitutulong pag dating namin sa Grand Prix,” closed Vicente.
Former UAAP MVP Cherry Vivas towed the HD Spikers with 19 points while Benilde teammates Jeanette Panaga and Janine Navarro contributed 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
After missing a season, the Generika franchise salvaged a fifth place finish after numerous runner-up and championship trophies in their initial PSL runs. Cignal, a perennial top four team, settles for sixth.
The Scores
Generika (3) – Casugod 20, Cortez 16, Meneses 14, Tiu 12, De Leon 3, Cabanos 1, Macabalitao 0, Pagdanganan 0, Arado (L)
Cignal (2) – Vivas 19, Panaga 14, Navarro 12, Laborte 7, Mandapat 5, Cheng 4, Tunay 3, Musa 2, Hingpit 0, Cortel (L), Dionela (L)
