By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Cocolife
6 p.m. – Petron vs Foton
A certified powerhouse aims to cut short an emerging force’s dream run while two supert teams rekindle their rivalry today in a pair of do-or-die semifinal matches in the 2017 Chooks-to-Go Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Top-ranked F2 Logistics looks to sustain its fiery form while upstart Cocolife intends to continue its giant-killing ways as they square off for the first finals berth at 4 p.m. before an expected sellout crowd.
The Cargo Movers, who hardly broke a sweat in bundling out Iriga City Oragons via straight-sets in the quarterfinals last Tuesday, are bracing for a tougher grind this time against the Asset Managers who pounced on the depleted Cignal HD Spikers, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20, the other night.
“Making it to the semifinals is a big achievement to our team,” said Cocolife coach Kungfu Reyes, pleased with the Asset Managers’ marked improvement following a seventh place finish in the Invitational Conference and fifth in the All-Filipino Conference.
“But we will not settle for fourth. Since we’re already here, we might as well do everything to make it to the finals. F2 Logistics is a very talented and disciplined team. We have to work hard to defeat them.”
A bigger share of the spotlight, however, will fall on the main match set at 6 p.m., with ‘three-peat’-seeking Foton colliding with reigning All-Filipino titleholder Petron in what promises to be a slam-bang affair.
The Blaze Spikers have the psychological edge after they have slowed down the Tornadoes’ fearsome attacking unit of high-flying Serbian import Sara Klisura, Dragana Perunicnic, Jaja Santiago and Maika Ortiz in the course of their 25-21, 25-22, 12-25, 25-20 victory back in the eliminations.
But Foton’s Serbian coach Moro Branislav is unfazed, confident he has enough tools to neutralize Petron’s potent weapons led by former reinforcement Lindsay Stalzer, American Hillary Hurley, locals Frances Molina, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Mika Reyes and Rhea Dimaculangan.