Petron, F2 Logistics seek finals berths

Games today (Muntinlupa Sports Center) 

4:15 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Foton

7 p.m. – Petron vs Cignal 

MANILA, Philippines — Twice-to-beat Petron and F2 Logistics seek yet another finals date when they face Cignal and Foton, respectively, as the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Final Four gets going today at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

Sporting hefty incentives as the top two seeds in the double-round prelims, the Blaze Spikers and the Cargo Movers will try to make the most out of the situation, and set up a title matchup for the seventh straight conference.

Petron plays No. 5 Cignal in the main game at 7 p.m. while F2 tackles No. 3  Foton at 4:15 p.m.

Now getting closer to their three-peat in the All Filipino Conference, head coach Shaq delos Santos called on his Blaze Spikers to shift into higher gear especially against a dangerous Cignal side.

“It’s already the semis so the real battle begins. We have to show more eagerness as we get closer to our goal of winning for the third straight year,” said Delos Santos following their three-set romp over Marinerang Pilipina last Thursday.

Moving on to the finals will not be a walk in the park for two-time champion Petron as Cignal looms as no easy challenger after its four-set win over No. 4 Generika-Ayala last Saturday.

The HD Spikers are one of the few teams to last five sets against the Blaze Spikers in the first round, raising coach Edgar Barroga’s confidence on their capability to land a major upset.

“We like our chances. I know we can go toe-to-toe with them. We’ll be ready,” he said after a close 20-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-16, 14-16 loss to the reigning champion the last time out. 

F2 will also be in a for a tough outing against the taller Foton squad bannered by towering sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who torched PLDT in their quarterfinal match last Thursday. 

But coach Ramil de Jesus is unfazed, locking his sights to barging into the finals after back-to-back bridesmaid finishes to Petron.

“We still have a lot of things to work on and improve on. But we’re confident and eager for some unfinished business here,” he said after F2 Logistics swept Sta. Lucia in the quarterfinals over the weekend.