F2 reclaims PSL all-Pinoy crown

MANILA, Philippines — F2 Logistics got over the hump of back-to-back bridesmaid finishes and reemerged as champ in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference with an emphatic 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 win over Cignal last night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Cargo Movers got off to a scorching start and refused to slow down in a dominant conquest of the HD Spikers to complete a two-game sweep of the finals as they reclaimed the all-Pinoy crown they won in 2016.

Fil-Am sensation Kalei Mau proved she meant business in her first Superliga championship stint, unleashing 19 points – 17 on attacks – to lead the way for F2 in its successful drive back to the top.

Mau was superb in the finale, coming through with 46 points in all.

In the title-clincher, Kim Kianna Dy chipped in 13 markers built on nine kills and four blocks while Ara Galang and Majoy Baron added six apiece.

Playmaker Kim Fajardo put in her share with 19 excellent sets and 10 digs while Dawn Macandili provided 20 excellent digs for F2 which got the job done at last after settling for runner-up finishes behind Petron in the last two years.

Coming off a close 25-22, 26-24, 18-25, 17-25, 15-8 Game One win, F2 Logistics wasted no time to impose its will this time, with the Cargo Movers pulling away early en route to the 11-point win in the opening set.

Mau, Baron and Galang teamed up both in blocking and scoring departments right at the start.

And the Cargo Movers just would not be denied, putting the clamps down on the usually resilient HD Spikers as Mau found hes mark and landed one attack after another.

Smelling the championship after winning the first two sets, F2 raced to a commanding 21-14 lead in the clinching third set before Cignal mounted a rally, closing in at 18-22 off a Mylene Paat crosscourt kill.

But Desiree Cheng came through with timely back-to-back hits of her own before Mau delivered the coup de grace with a strong kill from the back row.

No player finished in double figures for the HD Spikers with Jovelyn Gonzaga top scoring with just nine points.

Setter Alohi Robins-Hardy and Rachel Ann Daquis were also neutralized with just seven and six, respectively.