Games Today
(Malolos Sports Complex)
3 pm – Cignal vs Sta. Lucia
5 pm – Foton vs Generika-Ayala
7 pm – Cocolife vs Petron
Pacesetter Petron seeks to keep its record intact when it clashes with winless Cocolife in the Belo-Philippine Superliga Invitational today at the Malolos Sports Complex in Bulacan.
The Blaze Spikers will be aiming for their third consecutive triumph in as many games to solidify their hold of the top spot.
In their last outing, Petron’s Mika Reyes came up with a solid block before unleashing a booming kill down the stretch to tow the Blaze Spikers to an 18-25, 26-24, 14-25, 25-20, 15-12 win over Cignal Thursday night.
Reyes, the former La Salle superstar, delivered when it mattered most to lead her team to their second victory in this prestigious women’s club tournament bankrolled by Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller and Grand Sport with TV5 as official broadcast partner.
She finished with nine points, two of which in the crucial stretch of the deciding set, while Frances Molina and Carmela Tunay led the assault with 15 and 10 markers, respectively, in what was billed as the battle between two of the strongest teams in the league.
Generika-Ayala, meanwhile, tries to follow up its opening-day win against Cocolife when it squares off with Foton at 5 p.m.
The Lifesavers are running second with a 1-0 slate, while the Tornadoes, two-time Grand Prix champions, carry a 1-1 card.
Also last Thursday, Foton smothered newcomer Cocolife, 25-16, 25-17, 25-13, to bounce back from its earlier loss.
Veterans Grethcel Soltones and Dindin Manabat dictated the early tempo to lead the Tornadoes to their first win.
A fresh recruit from San Sebastian College, Soltones fired 10 of her 11 points off kills, while Manabat chipped in nine markers for the Tornadoes, who pounced hard on the Asset Managers’ erratic attacks and sluggish floor defense.
The Tornadoes had 40 kills while the Asset Managers had only 19.
Foton also finished with 31 digs while Cocolife had 24 despite the backline presence of Denden Lazaro, the former star libero of Ateneo de Manila who tallied seven receptions.
Meantime newcomer Sta. Lucia hopes to bounce back from a forgettable debut when it tangles with Cignal (1-1) in the 3 p.m. curtain raiser.