Petron eyes to preserve win streak, begins semis clash vs Cignal

Games Tuesday

(Filoil Flying V Centre)

4:15 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs PLDT

7:00 p.m. – Petron vs Cignal

MANILA, Philippines – Petron Blaze resumes its quest for a perfect season as it clashes with Cignal HD at the start of the best-of-three semifinals of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City Tuesday.

The Blaze Spikers have swept the elimination in 14 games, an impressive stretch that saw them concede just a single set, and made quick work of the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, 25-17, 25-11, 25-18, in the quarterfinals on April 6.

It arranged Petron a showdown with Cignal, which made it through after a 25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-20 triumph over United Volleyball Club on April 9, in a series the former is expected to dominate having swept the latter, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 on March 9 and 25-10, 25-7, 25-19, exactly a week later.

Game time is set at 7 p.m.

The power-hitting pair of Stephanie Niemer and Katherine Bell has been the focal point of Petron’s recent success but Petron coach Shaq delos Santos likes to think they rely more on the strength of the local players.

“We have great imports, very professional and can adjust in different situations,” said delos Santos in Filipino. “But I think the winning run is truly a total team effort from everyone in the team, not just the imports.”

For Cignal, it hopes to rely on the momentum built on its solid quarterfinal win.

“I think we have already found the winning formula entering the semis,” said Cignal mentor Edgar Barroga.

Second seed F2 and No. 3 PLDT Home Fibr, for their part, start their own semis series at 4:15 p.m.

While the Power Hitters are the underdogs, their shock 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-18 win over the Cargo Movers in the second round of the prelims last March 16 should give it enough confidence to pull off an upset.

“We’re definitely the underdogs but we’re no pushovers,” said PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb.

PLDT went to Kendra Dahlke and Grace Lazard in turning back stubborn Generika in two games including a nail-biting 25-15, 25-20, 24-26, 25-27, 15-12 win last week that clinch it the last berth to the semis.

Dahlke exploded for 37 points, including 33 on kills, while Lazard came through with a pair of clutch hits in that series win over Generika.

 And PLDT is likely to lean on the Dahlke-Lazard tandem anew against F2.

“They’re our heart and soul,” said Gorayeb.