Petron seeks payback vs F2 in PSL Grand Prix

MANILA, Philippines — Petron vowed to go all out when it faces F2 Logistics in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Blaze Spikers have all the reasons to be pumped up.

In Game Two of their best-of-three finals last year, Petron was way ahead in the first set, 9-0, putting it in a perfect position to conquer the crown.

But the Cargo Movers made a small adjustment.

F2 Logistics head coach Ramil de Jesus shifted Kennedy Bryan back to the opposite — her original position — while fielding veteran Cha Cruz to serve as diagonal of Most Valuable Player Maria Jose Perez in the open spiker spot.

The gamble paid a handsome reward as Bryan managed to stop Hillary Hurley and Lindsay Stalzer while Cruz and Perez did a lot of damage in the firing end.

The Cargo Movers went on to win the title, reducing the Blaze Spikers into a huge mass and sweat and tears.

Now, Petron wants to avenge that setback.

And head coach Shaq Delos Santos vowed to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, just to make a resounding bounce back.

“We’re all fired up to win,” said Delos Santos, who was seen shaking his head in disbelief as the Cargo Movers celebrate at centercourt amid a shower of golden confetti.

“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 war on Saturday. We want to win (over F2 Logistics) very badly.”

Delos Santos noted that a lot of things happened since that fateful December battle.

Four stalwarts in the Cargo Movers rotation in Dawn Macandili, Kianna Dy, Desiree Cheng and Majoy Baron took a leave of absence to join De La Salle University in its pursuit for third consecutive UAAP crown.

Even de Jesus will not be around, although team insiders claim that he remains on top of the Cargo Movers’ volleyball program.

Delos Santos, however, believes that the force, the power and the composure of the reigning champion will still be there.

“Although I’ve seen them only once this year, I think they remain strong because their core is still intact,” said Delos Santos, referring to the nucleus of Aby Marano, Kim Fajardo, Kennedy and Bryan with Minami Yoshioka serving as libero.

“Even if they lost their main libero (Macandili), they still managed to replace 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.”