Stalzer, Cargo Movers on a mission in PSL finals

MANILA, Philippines – Lindsay Stalzer knew F2 Logistics has the materials to go face-to-face with the most fancied team in the fold. Never mind if their ace setter is out of commission. Never mind if they struggled somewhat in the elims. And never mind if they had a late replacement import.

For as long as they continue to believe in themselves, play as one and stay focused, they knew they can carry out their mission.

“I really feel good and I knew we were capable of (doing it),” said Stalzer after firing 21 hits and leading the Cargo Movers past the erstwhile unbeaten Petron Blaza Spikers, 25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, in the opener of their best-of-three series for the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix Championship at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan late Tuesday.

Stalzer used to anchor Petron’s campaign in the league. In fact, she was the MVP when the Blaze Spikers ruled this conference last year over the Cargo Movers.

But after switching jerseys for the fourth time in her six-year stint in Superliga, Stalzer, with the solid backup of the rest of the squad, feels she could help steer F2 Logistics to its fourth championship.

She admits to have eaten Petron for breakfast.

“I think (about that) before the game…all season, actually, when I’m not playing, it has been on my mind. But during the game, I’m just focused on getting the win,” said Stalzer.

Win they did. But can they do it for the second straight time?

“We just got to be focused because we know that they (Blaze Spikers) are going to come back a lot harder,” she said.

F2 Logistics was gunning for the crown at presstime with Stalzer hoping to draw the same intensity and support from Venezuelan MJ Perez and the gutsy locals, led by Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron and Ara Galang, who combined for 22 points in their Game One win.

Setter Alex Cabanos has also played her role to the hilt in the absence of injured Fajardo while Perez has more than lived up to her hype as a game-changer for the Cargo Movers.

“I think it was just the fact that we had to accept that Alex is our setter now. For a while, they were telling us that Kim’s going to come back for the quarters. When that didn’t happen they said she’d be back in the semis. Now, it’s obviously not going to happen,” said Stalzer.

Perez, who came in for Becky Perry late in the second round of elims, did what she does best, stepping up in the clutch and finishing with 24 points in the series’ opener, the last three clinching the win for F2.

While the Blaze Spikers are expected to come into Game Two with a new mindset and game plan, F2 Logistics is sticking to its tested short rotation anchored on the ever-reliable import.

“We have so few subs to come in anyway, so I think that makes us tighter. We’re really uses to who’s on the court,” said Stalzer.