Games Thursday
(FilOil Flying V Center)
5 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Generika
7 p.m. – Cignal vs Petron
IMUS CITY – After a rollercoaster start, RC Cola-Army finally brandished its vintage form as it dominated Cignal, 25-13, 25-15, 25-10, in the Asics Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the Imus City Sports Complex here.
Skipper Jovelyn Gonzaga came out firing for the Lady Troopers in their most impressive victory in this prestigious inter-club tourney bankrolled by Mikasa, Mueller, Grand Sport and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcast partner.
It was RC Cola-Army’s third victory in seven outings, putting it in a perfect position to catch up with F2 Logistics for the third spot in the playoffs of this battle that is already supported by Focus Athletics, KLab Cyscorpions, Foton, Petron and F2 Logistics as sponsors.
The Cargo Movers, however, are still clashing with unbeaten Foton at press time.
A lefty spiker who campaigned in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship and FIVB Women’s Club World Championship that the country both hosted recently, Gonzaga unleashed an impressive performance, finishing with 14 kills and an ace for 16 points while Honey Royse Tubino and import Hailey Ripley chipped in nine and eight markers, respectively.
“This is how we play. This is the Army team I used to know,” said RC Cola-Army coach Kungfu Reyes.
“We trained hard for this and vowed to correct all the previous mistakes we had in the past. We analyzed those things and we agreed to work hard to win our remaining games. I hope things would be well.”
Reyes said their victory over Cignal should serve as a morale-booster entering a titanic battle with the Cargo Movers this weekend.
“That should serve as a litmus test for us,” he said. “We know F2 (Logistics) also wants to claim that third spot in the playoffs. This win is a good jump-off point before our game.”
With Olympian Lynda Morales not around for the HD Spikers, the Lady Troopers attacked from all fronts with Gonzaga, Tubino and Rachel Anne Daquis spearheading the offense. A service error by Mylene Paat gave RC Cola-Army an 8-2 lead in the third set en route to an easy victory.
