After a luckless start, Foton finally showed its true worth and dominated PLDT Home Fibr, 25-21, 25-20, 25-18, in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Tornadoes displayed a balanced attack to clobber the Power Spikers in 78 minutes and capture their first win after opening the season with back-to-back setbacks.
Shaya Adorador paced the team with 15 points laced with nine excellent reception and six digs while CJ Rosario manned the middle with five kills for 12 points for Foton, which is missing the services of Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat and Maika Ortiz.
Santiago and Manabat are competing in the prestigious V. Premier League in Japan while Ortiz crashed with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Elaine Kasilag was also impressive as she chipped in 10 hits while EJ Laure and Marian Buitre added eight markers.
Foton coach Aaron Velez said he was glad that they finally got their first win without Santiago, Manabat and Ortiz.
“Of course, we’re happy. Coming from two losses, this is a huge boost for us,” said Velez, who also drew great plays from Gyzelle Sy and impressive floor defense from Jen Reyes.
“Before the match started, I told them to give their best because getting this win is important for our campaign. They responded well.”
Foton forced a tie with PLDT with identical 1-2 win-loss cards before entering the second round, where the Tornadoes will be grouped in Pool D joining Sta. Lucia, Generika-Ayala and F2 Logistics.
The Power Hitters missed their head coach Roger Gorayeb, who was under the weather, as last game’s top scorer Grethcel Soltones struggled with just four points, leaving Jerrili Malabanan to carry the cudgels with 11 points in a losing effort.
PLDT will join Pool C in the next round together with Cignal, Petron and Marinerang Pilipina.
Meantime, reigning champion F2 Logistics vented its ire on Marinerang Pilipina, 25-14, 25-17, 25-11 in the second game.
Following a frustrating 22-25, 23-25, 18-25 loss to rival Petron last Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, the Cargo Movers bounced back with an easy win as Ara Galang, Majoy Baron and Kianna Dy provided the firepower.
Galang delivered 17 points off 14 kills and three blocks while Baron and Dy chipped in 12 points apiece and Desiree Cheng added nine markers and 13 digs for the Cargo Movers, who drew an explosive game from setter Kim Fajardo.
