BIÑAN CITY — Defending champion Petron bucked a lethargic start before turning back rival F2 Logistics, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20, and earn its fourth straight win to keep the 2018 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference lead on Saturday at the Alonte Sports Center here.
Even after a sorry first-set loss, the Blaze Spikers showed their unstoppable championship form to recover from a slow start and accelerate in the succeeding sets to hand the first defeat of their Invitational Conference tormentors, Cargo Movers in their much-anticipated rivalry game.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas continued to show her vintage form leading Petron once agains with 17 kills for 19 points. Bernadeth Pons, who was scoreless from their previous win over Smart last Thursday, redeemed herself with 16 points including 21 digs and five excellent receptions, while Sisi Rondina added 11 markers highlighted with a team-high four blocks.
Mika Reyes and Remy Palma also shone with eigt markers apiece, while libero Buding Duremdes had a job well done protecting Petron’s floor with 39 excellent digs out of 46 attempts and 10 receptions.
"Malaki talaga ang tiwala namin sa isa't isa dito sa team kaya hindi siguro kami na-down agad,” Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos said. “Alam namin na importante 'yung game ngayon para makita namin kung nasaan na kami as a team. Naging maganda na 'yung execution namin noong huling tatlong set kaya happy kami.”
The Blaze Spikers extended their unbeaten run to a 4-0 win-loss record seizing the solo lead and will taking a week-long break prior to facing Cignal (2-2) on Saturday next week at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Petron squandered a 15-9 start in the first set allowing F2 Logistics to draw the first blood but the Blaze Spikers were never wavered and muscled their way in the succeeding sets to win their first rivalry battle this conference.
Cha Cruz led F2 Logistics with 12 points. Ara Galang had 11 points and as many as excellent receptions, while Kianna Dy added 10 markers. Dawn Macandili also had a great defensive effort of 31 digs and 10 excellent receptions only for the Cargo Movers to fall with a 3-1 record sliding to the No.3 spot.
The Cargo Movers will try to bounce back against the hapless Generika-Ayala (0-3) this Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan City.
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