F2 LOGISTICS and Petron collide in another slam-bang battle today in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Game time is set at 6 pm with both the Cargo Movers and Blaze Spikers looking to remain unbeaten in this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu and UCPB Gen with ESPN5 as official broadcast partner.
Resurgent Cocolife, meanwhile, guns for its third straight victory when it clashes with Foton in the 4 pm appetizer in this event that also has Mikasa, Mueller, Asics Senoh, Grand Sport and LGR as technical sponsors.
After tallying a pair of impressive wins over Sta. Lucia Realty and Cignal, the Blaze Spikers went on to dominate Smart late Thursday, 25-12, 25-14, 25-17, to chalk their third victory and tighten their hold of the lead.
But that streak is now threatened as Petron faces F2 Logistics, the same squad that frustrated it in an emotional best-of-three finals showdown last year.
Despite losing La Salle standouts like national team members Kianna Dy and Dawn Macandili, the Cargo Movers remain a strong force to be reckoned with following the return of Most Valuable Player Maria Jose Perez of Venezuela and Kennedy Bryan of United States.
F2 Logistics also recruited a Japanese libero in Minami Yoshioka while adding six-footer Lourdes Clemente, Ara Galang and Michelle Morente into the mix.
“Although I have seen them only once this year, I think they remain strong because their core is still intact,” said Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, who is expected to bank on imports Hillary Hurley and Lindsay Stalzer as well as local stars Frances Molina, Mika Reyes and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas.
“Even if they lost their main libero (Macandili), they replaced her with a Japanese. So, it’s still the same. We still have to prepare and go hard against this team in a very important match.”
Delos Santos added that they are all pumped up and only an impressive win over the Cargo Movers will ease the pain of their setback from last year.
“Gigil na gigil talaga kaming manalo,” he said. “But of course, we also have to keep our emotions in check and focus on the task at hand. It’s going to be a tough match on Saturday.”
