Lifesavers stun HD Spikers; Power Hitters top Tornadoes

MANILA, Philippines — Generika Ayala pulled the rug from under third-running Cignal, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, to chalk up its second victory in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix last night at Filoil Flying V Center.

The Lifesavers, who won only once in the first round, pounced on the HD Spikers’ erratic ways in the first set then banked on Kanjana Kuthaisong and Kseniya Kocygit’s well-placed hits in the second and showed grit in climbing out of a 12-17 deficit in the third to secure the massive victory.

Kuthaisong and Fiola Ceballos punched in 14 points apiece while Kocygit, playing opposite, added 12 as the Lifesavers completed the straight-set romp and improved to 2-7 while sending the HD Spikers down to 5-4.

“Sabi ko sa team,nakadepende talaga iyan sa lalaruin natin. Nakaka-six five sets na kami, ibig sabihin pwede naming matalo kahit sino, depende sa lalaruin,” said Generika coach Sherwin Meneses.

Mylene Paat took the scoring cudgels for Cignal with 15 as imports Erica Wilson and Ana Artemeva managed 11, and six, respectively.

“Hindi namin inexpect na straight sets kasi magaling din imports nila,” said Meneses. “Pero kumuha kami ng confidence sa matchups namin nung All Filipino, na two straight sets namin sila doon.”

PLDT Home Fibr earlier outdueled Foton in four, 25-16, 27-25, 22-25, 26-24, to pick up back-to-back victories and draw level with Cignal at 5-4.

The Power Hitters took the opening frame with relative ease but needed to grind it out in the second, saving set point twice before stealing the set, and recovered in time after squandering a 24-19 lead in the fourth, to secure the followup to their five-set win over Generika Ayala two days before.

“Sana magtuloy-tuloy na,” said PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb, who drew heads-up plays from imports Grace Lazard (25 points, 11 digs), and Kendra Dahlke (18 markers) and locals Rysabelle Devanadera (12 points), Aiko Urdas (11 points) and Jasmine Nabor (32 excellent sets and four points).

“Hindi naman ako actually nakikipag-agawan sa Top 2, mahihirapan na doon; pumasok lang sa 3 or 4 happy na,” said Gorayeb.

Milagros Collar (24) and Coutney Felinski (16) led the way for the Tornadoes, whose losing skid stretched to eight games.