Now armed with another local volleyball star, the Petron Blaze Spikers overwhelmed the up-and-coming Foton Tornadoes in four sets, 25-18, 26-24, 20-25, 25-19 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Sporting Rachel Daquis in their starting six, Petron was unstoppable offensively as five players scored in double digits, led by Dindin Santiago-Manabat’s massive 23-point effort.
Foton took an early lead, 3-0, but Petron eventually got their groove and knotted the set up at nine. A fruitful sequence at the service line from Rachel Daquis pushed Petron ahead, 13-9, sparking a insurmountable Petron rally that had them take the lead by as many as eight, 24-16. The Blaze Spikers took the opening set handily.
The second set was much more heavily contested as Foton once again took a slim early lead, 8-7. The Tornadoes expanded their lead, 18-15 when Petron’s floor defense showed a few cracks, thus giving Foton unnecessary free balls. Petron tied the match at 19, but a trio of splendid attacks from Patty Orendain put Foton up, 22-19. The Blaze Spikers, however, showed their veteran composure down the stretch, packing heat behind their serves that the young Tornadoes couldn’t quell. Petron forced a deuce, 24-24, and waltzed their way to a second set win after Foton surrendered consecutive errors.
The young Foton squad finally broke through in the third set as their new acquisitions pulled through midway through the set. Battling through another see-saw set with the score tied at 13, UP’s Nicole Tiamzon and Angeli Araneta jolted the Tornadoes ahead, 16-13. Late in the set, Patty Orendain once again carried Foton, but this time Orendain’s four-point storm resulted in their first won set for the game.
Dindin Manabat dominated the early goings of the fourth set, scoring five early points, powering Petron to a 16-12 lead. Petron’s lead continued to grow as Aby Maraño and Frances Molina shut down all of Foton’s activities at the net with their blocking. Petron built a seven-point lead, 22-15, and easily cruised to their second win for the season.
The loss gives Foton a 1-1 slate as they won their first match over Cignal. Nicole Tiamzon and Patty Orendain both turned in impressive performances as they scored 21 and 22 points, respectively, but the duo received no support outside of Angeli Araneta’s 10 points.
The Scores
Petron (3) – Manabat 23, Molina 14, Daquis 11, Morada 11, Maraño 10, Perez 2, Cayetano 2, Masangkay 0, Reyes (L)
Foton (1) – Tiamzon 22, Orendain 21, Araneta 10, Lastimosa 4, Estampa 2, Remulla 1, Factor 0, Macatuno 0, Acevedo (L), Panteleon (L)
