Petron revs up with import power, takes Sliga solo lead

MANILA, Philippines — Petron needed to wake up from a second set breakdown to down Cignal, 25-17, 8-25, 25-20, 25-17, yesterday to seize the solo lead in the Chooks to Go Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Sta. Rosa Sports Center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Imports Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley took turns and finished with 18 points apiece to lift the Blaze Spikers to their second win in a row after trouncing the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17, 25-20, a week ago at the Ynares Gym in Pasig City.

The HD Spikers, who downed the Cocolife Asset Managers, 25-15, 28-26, 25-15, at the Bacoor Sports Center in Bacoor, Cavite Tuesday, fell to their first defeat.

It took Petron, which is seeking to join Army as the league’s most titled franchise with four championships, a second-set humiliation though to straighten things up.

“The team was really determined to bounce back from that disappointing second set, that was our wake-up call,” said Petron coach Shaq delos Santos.

For Stalzer, who is on his second tour of duty with Petron, she credited the win to the lack of familiarity of players of a Cignal team which has also brought in a new coach in Edgar Barroga.