Cargo Movers, Blaze Spikers try to seal GP finals

MANILA, Philippines — Logistics and Petron seek to seal another title clash as they go for the clinchers against Foton and Cocolife, respectively, in Game 2 of the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix semifinals today at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The powerhouse teams carved out a pair of four-set victories in the opener of their respective best-of-three series last Tuesday with the Cargo Movers and the Blaze Spikers all set to arrange another faceoff for the crown.

F2 rallied from 0-1 down and swept Petron in next two to snare the PSL Grand Prix title last year with the two teams, given their respective solid rosters, again tipped to clash for this year’s diadem.

“It’s still a long way to go,” said F2 Logistics coach Arnold Laniog, who is subbing in for head coach Ramil de Jesus. “We’re studying the stats and it was a very close match if not for their errors. But they are taller and stronger so we have to make some minor adjustments and find a way to neutralize Jaja (Santiago) and (Channon) Thompson at the attack zone.”

The Cargo Movers held off the Tornadoes, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, late Tuesday and vowed to score a repeat in their 4:15 p.m. encounter today.

Petron and Cocolife tangle in the 7 p.m. main game of the tournament bankrolled by Isuzu and UCPB Gen with ESPN5 as official broadcast partner.

In that match, the Cargo Movers unleashed a well-balanced attack spiked with airtight defense that left the Tornadoes fading down the stretch.