Petron, F2 begin PSL title showdown

MANILA, Philippines – Petron may be hungry, but F2 Logistics has the tactical advantage when they open their Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga best-of-three finals series Tuesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Blaze Spikers’ head coach Shaq Delos Santos admitted that the Cargo Movers are playing very well in their past few games and stopping them in Game One require tremendous hard work in training and actual battle.

In its semifinal series with Foton, in fact, F2 Logistics played like a well-oiled machine with middle blockers Aby Marano and Cherry Nunag dousing cold water in the fiery offensive game of imports Channon Thompson and Elizabeth Wendel as well as Jaja Santiago and Dindin Manabat.

Japanese import Minami Yoshioka was also impressive as her great reception and passing game led to the brilliant playmaking of Kim Fajardo.

Delos Santos said the stakes are high and they have to stop the red-hot Cargo Movers if they want to avenge their painful setback last year.

“We’re facing a very talented team,” said Delos Santos, adding that they have to come up with loaded services to disrupt the transition game of the Cargo Movers.

“They have a good libero and good setter who can come up with good plays. That’s why we have to properly identify our targets and come up with loaded services to take their spikers away from the game.”

“F2 Logistics is no ordinary team. We have to prepare hard and be at our best if we want to go far.”

But playing flawless volleyball didn’t come as a surprise for F2 Logistics.

Head coach Arnold Laniog said they are still using the system of Ramil de Jesus, the 10-time champion coach in the UAAP who took a leave of absence to steer De La Salle University back to the throne.

He added that de Jesus remains their team consultant, presides their training and plot the plays that they employ every game.

“He’s very much in-charge,” said Laniog, who joined the Cargo Movers last year upon the invitation of former teammate and long-time de Jesus’ assistant in Benson Bocboc.

“The players know the system of coach Ramil by heart and by mind so they have an idea on how to compete when the stakes are high.”

“But of course, the finals will be an entirely different battle. We have to work very hard because we know Petron is also capable of beating us.”

Still, talent alone cannot dictate the outcome of the series.

“This is anybody’s ballgame,” Laniog said.

 “Whoever wants it more will definitely win the title.”