Foton leaned on its twin towers once again, as Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Jaja Santiago powered the Tornadoes’ sweep of the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers, 25-16, 28-26, 25-15, in the 2019 PSL All-Filipino Conference, Saturday evening at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Santiago-Manabat topped the scoring charts with 19 points built on 18 attacks and a block while Santiago contributed 15 points for the Tornadoes, who have fortified their position at the third seed with a 7-3 card.
Coming off a cardiac second set, the Lifesavers let open the flood gates as the Tornadoes mounted a 22-12 cushion after Santiago-Manabat fired back to back hits. Though Generika-Ayala incited a rally, it was a tad too late as Santiago slammed the door shut to put the game out of the Lifesavers’ reach.
Mina Aganon added eight points on top of 22 excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions for Foton while Gyzelle Sy had three points and 21 excellent sets.
“One thing that I like sa lahat ng pinakita ng mga players ko today is they just kept on believing in themselves,” Foton head coach Aaron Velez said. “Then they were able to, kahit may mga konting struggle, they just keep on getting our rhythm and ‘yung pace namin hindi kami nawawala sa focus.”
On the other hand, Patty Orendain’s 13 points off 11 attacks and two blocks was the lone twin-digit output for Generika-Ayala, which fell to a 5-4 card at fourth place.
Angeli Araneta and Fiola Ceballos managed nine markers each. Jamie Lavitoria dispersed two points, nine excellent sets, and 14 excellent digs.
Foton will now turn its attention to a surging F2 Logistics on Thursday at the FilOil Arena. Generika-Ayala, meanwhile, seeks to get back on winning track as it faces Marinerang Pilipina on Tuesday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
