DEFENDING champion Petron overcame a two-set deficit to avoid Foton’s upset scare, 22-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-10, on Tuesday in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Blaze Spikers recovered from a sluggish start before vaunting their championship poise to fight back from a 0-2 disadvantage and force a fifth set on the way to scoring a second straight victory.
Sisi Rondina rose to the occasion in the decider giving Petron a 12-10 breather before Rhea Dimaculangan’s ace and Mika Reyes’s block reached match point, 14-10.
Dimaculangan’s service error and Mina Aganon’s attack saved two more points for Foton but Aiza Maizo-Pontillas closed out the match with a game-winning spike.
Team captain Ces Molina led the come-from-behind win with 20 points built on 15 attacks, four service aces and a block.
Rondina finished with 14 points coming off the bench. Remy Palma also had 14 markers, while Mika Reyes added 12. Dimaculangan dished out 25 excellent sets.
“Sobrang proud ako sa team namin. Knowing them naman, kaya nila maglaro ng maayos at wake-up call sa amin ni Lord na hindi pwedeng maging complacent talaga,” said Petron Head coach Shaq Delos Santos. “Contender talaga yung kalaban namin. Alam namin na possible na mangyari yun. Experience wise, okay din sila. Good thing na-handle namin yung pressure.”
Petron will have a championship rematch with F2 Logistics on Thursday.
Foton was a set close from regaining its winning ways but it failed to close out the match absorbing its third straight loss in four matches tied with Sta. Lucia (1-3).
Jaja Santiago finished with 21 points off 18 attacks and three blocks. Dindin Santiago-Manabat had 16 points, while Elaine Kasilag and Mina Aganon added 10 each. Setter Gyzelle Sy made 31 excellent sets on top of 15 digs in a losing cause.
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