Kurashiki dashed F2 Logistics’ hopes of reaching the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference Final by securing a dominant 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 victory on Tuesday evening at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
With this win, the Ablaze also put an end to Kinh Bac and Cignal’s title aspirations, while moving within one victory of a final showdown against Creamline.
Asaka Tamaru led Kurashiki’s offense with 19 points, while Yukino Yano, Kyoka Ohshima, and Kokoro Takio combined for 23 points in the 86-minute match.
Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki, speaking through an interpreter, said, “F2 Logistics has a formidable lineup with fast players, which gave us several opportunities to lose, and they also have a strong fanbase. It was a great performance from our team to secure this win.”
F2 Logistics, who played without Kianna Dy for the second consecutive game due to a knee injury, fell into a three-game hole with a 1-3 record, while Kurashiki improved to a 3-0 slate.
After losing the first two sets, the Cargo Movers remained competitive with a running attack led by team captain Aby Marano, reaching a 15-15 tie. However, the Ablaze finished strong with a 10-5 run, handing F2 Logistics its third consecutive loss with a final set score of 25-20.
In the second set, F2 Logistics, despite trailing by as many as six points, mounted a 12-7 run to reduce the deficit to one after Saya Taniguchi’s hit went out, making it 21-20.
Nevertheless, Kurashiki responded with a 4-2 closing attack, benefiting from an Ivy Lacsina backrow attack error, two consecutive points from Yukino Yano, and a Myla Pablo miscue, closing the set 25-22.
The Ablaze dominated the spike category, converting 51 of their 167 attacks, compared to the Cargo Movers’ 33 successful spikes out of 148 attempts.
Known for their blocking prowess, F2 Logistics dominated the block department with 11 blocks, while the smaller Kurashiki squad managed only one block credited to Akane.
Myla Pablo led the Cargo Movers in the losing effort with 12 points, consisting of 10 attacks and an ace, while Majoy Baron also contributed 12 points, including a game-high five blocks.
The Cargo Movers will conclude their semifinals run against Bac Ninh on Friday, while the Ablaze will seek to win their fourth consecutive game against the Final-seeking High-Speed Hitters on Thursday. (Ernest Martin Tuazon)
