Blaze Spikers, Cargo Movers renew rivalry

MANILA, Philippines — Facing off for a Philippine Superliga championship for the sixth straight time, Petron and F2 Logistics must’ve familiarized themselves with each other’s plays and styles that it should boil down to execution – or the last hit or block in what promises to be a slam-bang duel for the Grand Prix crown at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

But the Blaze Spikers have the edge, 3-2, in what has become one of the league’s most followed rivalries with the crowd favorites stringing up 14 straight victories in the classification before easing out the Sta. Lucia and the Cignal sides in the quarters and semifinals, respectively. That moved the team two wins away from sweeping their way to another championship the way it did in the All-Filipino Conference in 2015.

In contrast, F2 Logistics struggled trying to buck the loss of star setter Kim Fajardo to injury but still found a way to finish the elims with an 11-3 mark. The Cargo Movers then repulsed a tough Foton squad in the quarters before reaching peak form to blast the PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters in the semis.

That should make Game One of the best-of-three series set at 7 p.m. encounter worth watching with Cignal and PLDT Home Fibr clashing in their own battle for third place at 4:15 p.m.

While Petron has the power, confidence and momentum, F2 Logistics remains confident of its chances despite missing some key players, vowing to deal the Blaze Spikers a first loss since Game 2 of the All-Filipino finals last December.

But for Petron coach Shaq delos Santos, records and statistics are not much of a factor in a battle of attrition.

“The sweep in the prelims is over. This is now a brand-new challenge for us,” said Delos Santos. “We have to double our effort if we want to be back-to-back champions. We know for sure that they will try their best to win Game 1 to gain momentum and dictate the tempo of this series.”

Delos Santos, however, admitted that they are wary of their former import – reigning MVP Lindsay Stalzer, now the spearhead of F2 Logistics.

“She knows what it takes to win. I’m sure Lindsay will go all out so we have to be ready,” said Delos Santos, who still boasts talented imports in Stephanie Niemer and Katherine Bell as well as the local crew of Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Denden Lazaro and Rhea Dimaculangan.