F2 aims to sweep PSL elims

MANILA, Philippines – F2 Logistics is off to a flying start after winning its first three matches in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix.

After missing the league’s first two weeks to see action in the University Games, the Cargo Movers opened their bid with a titanic win over Petron before hurdling Sta. Lucia Realty and Cocolife to remain as the league’s only unbeaten team.

With that, speculations are ripe that the Cargo Movers have a golden chance to sweep the single-round eliminations en route to winning the title.

If and when that happens, they will become the second team to do the trick after the Blaze Spikers took the All-Filipino Conference by storm in 2015.

“Kasama na din yung desire namin na ma-sweep ang eliminations sa goal namin,” said de Jesus, the noted guru who is responsible for De La Salle University’s 10 titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

“Kasi di ba, mas maganda na matapos mo yung eliminations na walang talo?”

Based on the tournament format, the top team will take on the eighth-seeded team in a sudden-death quarterfinal encounter.

If the quarterfinals will start now, F2 Logistics will take on either Sta. Lucia Realty or Iriga City for a chance to advance to the semifinals.

De Jesus said while the thought of sweeping the eliminations lingers at the back of his mind, he still knows that it’s going to be a long and grueling journey ahead.

After all, losing a game or two will surely test their character and give them valuable lessons for the tough grind ahead.

“Pero maganda pa din na makaranas ka ng talo para makita mo kung anong gagawin ng team mo pagkatapos nun,” he said. “Mahirap kasi na puro panalo ka tapos hindi na alam ng team mo kung papano babangon.”

De Jesus added that imports Maria Jose Perez of Venezuela and Kennedy Bryan of the United States may be playing consistently, blending perfectly with the defense-minded core of Aby Marano, Majoy Baron and Dawn Macandili, he still believes that they haven’t reached their peak yet.

They still have a lot of gas left in their tank.

And that’s what they’re going to unleash when the going gets tough.

“I think we still haven’t reached our peak yet,” he said. “Madami pa din kaming kulang. We’re still a work in progress.”