DEFENDING champion Petron is fielding Sisi Rondina and Denden Lazaro, this time, as it seeks revenge on unbeaten rival F2 Logistics in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Arena in San Juan City.
Rondina was in a Japan trip, while Lazaro was nursing a foot injury when the Blaze Spikers suffered their first preliminary round lost after two conferences, falling at the expense of the Kalei Mau-led Cargo Movers, 21-25, 25-17, 25-27, 19-25, last June.
But in their second-round collision at 4:15 p.m., Petron is in full force as it tries to end F2 Logistics’ unbeaten 11-game run.
Leading scorer Rondina, who has been starting for Petron since the second round, is not sure of head coach Shaq Delos Santos’s rotation for their rivalry game.
But the reigning UAAP MVP out of University of Santo Tomas assured she’s going to deliver regardless if she is starting or coming off the bench.
“Hindi ko pa alam yung magiging line up ni coach Shaq. Basta ako always ready ako to contribute and to help my team,” said Rondina. “Siyempre yung game plan pa rin namin and kung ano yung usual na ginagawa ng team yun pa rin.”
Ace libero Lazaro believes that not only their complete line-up will be their key factor but also the way the Blaze Spikers played for the past games winning nine straight for an 11-1 win-loss record at No.2 spot.
“I think we started off a bit shaky this conference, noong first round namin,“ said the former Ateneo Lady Eagle. “I think right now we’re getting our bearings. Mas maganda na yung tinatakbo ng games at ng trainings namin.”
“Niremind lang samin ni coach na wag maging overexcited sa game. Sana all goes well,” she added.