Cocolife survives Iriga

MANILA, Philippines — Cocolife clobbered a hapless Iriga City side, 25-23, 25-15, 26-24, to wheel back into contention in the Chooks-to-Go Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

The Asset Managers banked on Wensh Tiu’s timely hits to survive a near meltdown in the opener, controlled the second set behind Americans Taylor Milton and Tai Manu-Olevao then leaned anew on Milton at endgame after they blew a seven-point lead to complete the straight-set victory.

That moved Cocolife to solo fourth at 3-3 behind Foton (5-1), F2 Logistics (4-0) and Petron (4-1).

Later in the night, F2 Logistics kept its win run going, blasting Generika-Ayala, 25-21, 25-17, 25-17, for its fourth straight victory.

The Cargo Movers survived the Lifesavers’ tough stand in the opening frame then broke away midway in the next two set to fashion out the straight-set triumph that kept them within Petron (5-1) and ahead of Foton (4-1).

Generika slid to 2-4.

Milton unloaded 20 points with all but one coming off attacks while Manu-Olevao had 19 built on 16 hits, two blocks and an ace for Cocolife, which bounced back from a straight-set loss to F2 Logistics the last time out.

“Anytime you relax against Iriga City, they will pounce on that. Had we lost in the first set, the game would have been extended to a deciding fifth with the grit that they showed,” said Cocolife coach Kungfu Reyes.

“Though Iriga City is a young team, you cannot take it for granted. They even made a statement by winning their first match. In the third set, we struggled down the stretch but good thing we were able to recover and my players’ maturity showed,” he added.

Serbian Tamara Kmezic and Japanese Sam Miyagawa, who rallied the Oragons from 11-18 down in the third set, hammered in 16 and 10 points, respectively.

Japanese Minami Yoshioka dished out 20 digs and nine excellent receptions for Iriga City, which absorbed its fourth straight loss after an opening day win over Sta. Lucia.