Games Today (The Arena, San Juan City)
4:15 p.m. – Cignal vs Petron
7:00 p.m. – PLDT vs F2 Logistics
Bitter rivals Petron and F2 Logistics seek to book another finals duel in Game 2 of their respective Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix best-of-three semifinal series today at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Blaze Spikers clash with the Cignal HD Spikers at 4:15 p.m. while the Cargo Movers tackle the PLDT Power Hitters at 7 p.m.
After blowing hot and cold, F2 Logistics regained its championship form down the stretch to pull off a 25-14, 17-25, 25-16, 25-22 victory over the Power Hitters in Game 1 of this series.
Two-time Most Valuable Player awardee Lindsay Stalzer restored order in the third set before unleashing a flurry of clutch hits in the crucial stretch to lift the Cargo Movers out of trouble and into the brink of another finals appearance.
“She got frustrated in the second set,” said F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus. “But I told her to remain focussed because we need her maturity and leadership down the stretch. It woke her up and she started to play well in the third set.”
But all eyes will be on Petron.
After suffering their second set loss of the season, the Blaze Spikers displayed their ability to bounce back as imports Katherine Bell and Stephanie Niemer caught fire in the second set en route to an impressive 20-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25–18 win.
Bell and Niemer pumped in 24 points apiece to put Petron one win away from making it to their 13th finals appearance and three straight wins away from sweeping the tournament.
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos, however, said they are marching into Game 2 with high morale, especially after seeing his wards bouncing back from a rusty start in Game 1.
NEW MEMBER
Meantime. Marinerang Pilipina has signified its intention to take part in the next conference of the fastest growing league.
Team manager Jed Montero said they would go all out to join the league that will have grizzled veteran Vilet Ponce-de Leon serving as head coach.
PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico was elated over the commitment displayed by the Marinerang Pilipina, which also has a team in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League.
“It really feels good to know that the PSL continues to grow,” said Juico, also a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.
