The Petron Tri-Activ Spikers, led by team captain Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, ended their first elimination round with a sweep of the Standard Insurance-Navy Corvettes, 25-16, 25-18, 25-19, in the 2016 All-Filipino Conference of the Philippine Superliga.
The game sealed the Tri-Activ Spikers third place in Group A coming into the second round, and the Corvettes’ in Group B.
Petron head coach George Pascua made some minor adjustments in his lineup for their final game of the first round.
“Kailangan kasi, iba-ibahin mo ‘yung tao para kahit papa’no, may konting twist. Kailangan naming gawin ‘yun e, kasi knowing Army, matagal na ‘yung magkakasama, ang F2, ganu’n din. So kami lang ‘yung iba-ibang eskwelahan talaga na [pinanggalijgan],” he said.
Petron set the tone early and led by eight, 21-13, in the first set capped by Bernadeth Pons’ drop shot. A variety off attacks by Micah Morada, Frances Molina and Maizo-Pontillas, then closed the set for the Tri-Activ Spikers.
In the second set, Petron again led all the way, starting with a 12-3 opening capped by a Maizo-Pontillas ace. They used the distance to take the set with slight ease, 25-18, highlighted by four attacks, again by their captain.
Maizo-Pontillas led all scorers with 15 points off 13 attacks and two aces, while no Corvette scored more than Pau Soriano’s six.
The defending champions seemed to have full control with a double-digit lead, 23-13, when the Corvettes unleashed a 6-1 run, highlighted by a block and an ace by Pauline Genido and forced George Pascua to call a timeout. After the regrouping, CJ Rosario finished the game with a quick kill to take the set, 25-19.
The Tri-Activ Spikers have yet to know their schedule for the second round, but Pascua knows his team has already adjusted.
“Before, nu’ng eliminations, ginagamit ko ‘yung mga bago to adjust. Naka-adjust na sila, so anytime na ipasok mo nitong semis, kahit papa’no adjusted na,” he said.
The Scores:
Petron (3) – Maizo-Pontillas 15, Morada 13, Pons 9, Palma 9, Molina 9, Masangkay 2, Aganon 2, Yongco 2, Rosario 1, Nunag 0, Zapanta 0, Negrito 0, Reyes (L)
Standard Insurance-Navy (0) – Soriano 6, Madulid 5, Veronas 4, Diaz 3, Martinez 3, Sabete 2, Serafica 2, Genido 2, Mabbayad 2, Acuna 0, Dela Cruz 0, Fortuno (L), Ticar (L)
