By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex)
2 p.m. – Cocolife vs Generika-Ayala
4 p.m. – Foton vs Petron
Petron aims to sustain its hot start while potent Foton tries to ride on its newfound confidence when they square off today in the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex.
Game time is at 4 p.m., with the pacesetting Blaze Spikers determined to stretch their winning streak to six matches and the Tornadoes, two-time tourney titlists, raring to come up with a strong follow-up to an impressive showing the last time out.
Serving as a fitting appetizer is the 2 p.m. showdown between streaking Cocolife and struggling Generika-Ayala.
The Asset Managers are aching to extend their winning run to four matches and move up to solo second spot while the Lifesavers look to stop a three-game bleeding and finally set their title bid in motion under new coach Sherwin Meneses.
All eyes, however, will be on the main match, with Petron eager to keep its foot on the pedal as the Blaze Spikers try to gain more momentum and confidence after falling short against F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in last year’s finals.
“We can’t afford to relax,” said Petron coach Shaq delos Reyes, doing his best to put the bitter lesson into good use after his wards moved a set away from seizing the coveted crown, only to see their title hopes get shattered into pieces by F2 Logistics.
“We want to avoid what happened last year when we lost to F2 (Logistics) in the finals. We want to come up strong every single set, every single game to win the title.”
It’s easier said than done, however, since the Blaze Spikers need to deal with a Tornadoes crew riding high on a five-set win over newcomer Smart Giga Hitters last Tuesday.
But Delos Santos is relishing the tough task at hand, confident that touted imports Hillary Hurley and Lindsay Stalzer as well as top locals Mika Reyes, Frances Molina and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas can rise to the challenge.