The country’s best club teams—Petron and F2 Logistics—lock horns in another epic clash for pride and supremacy when they open their Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference best-of-three finals duel today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Game 1 action erupts at 7 p.m. with both the Blaze Spikers and Cargo Movers putting everything on the line to clinch the title of this prestigious women’s tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.
Prior to that, Smart-Army and Cignal collide at 4:15 p.m. for the bronze medal of this conference that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Mueller, Asics and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.
After surrendering the Grand Prix title to the Cargo Movers last year, the Blaze Spikers fired back and dominated their rivals in a thrilling duel in the import-flavored conference that was overflowing with intensity, action and drama never seen in any volleyball league in the country.
And now, they’re clashing in the finals again—for the fourth consecutive time.
“Definitely, it will be a great match-up,” said Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos, who enjoys a 2-1 edge over F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus in their past three finals showdown.
“It all boils down to the heart of the players because both teams are good skill-wise and the coaches have their respective game plans.”
But Petron’s road to the crown is littered with setbacks as top hitter Frances Molina is tipped to see limited minutes after sustaining a shin injury.
This recurring injury, which Molina sustained when she was still playing for San Beda College in the NCAA, needs three to four weeks of rest and had barred her from joining the national team in its training in Japan on Aug. 5 and the 18th Asian Games starting Aug. 16.
“Ces [Molina] is hurt, but she’s ready to go,” said Delos Santos, lauding the fighting spirit of his prized ward.
“She’s a fighter. She knows that this is already the finals where you have to go out and give everything you’ve got. I’m sure she will still give her best in this series before sitting out to get some rest and have her injury treated.”
Meanwhile, the Cargo Movers will be marching to the finals roaring for redemption.
With de Jesus busy in engineering another championship run for De La Salle University in the UAAP, F2 Logistics fell prey to Petron in the finals of the Grand Prix early this year.
But now that he’s back together with La Salle stars Dawn Macandili, Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron, expect the Cargo Movers to storm back and give the Blaze Spikers a run for their money.
“The team had its shortcomings in the last Grand Prix,” said de Jesus, who acted as consultant to head coach Arnold Laniog last conference.
“If they will not give their full effort and play well, we will get the same result like we had in the Grand Prix. If they are thirsty for this title, the players have to show it inside the court.”
Delos Santos said although he has the nucleus of Cha Cruz-Behag, Ara Galang, Aby Marano and Kim Fajardo, they still can’t count Petron out as it parades an equally-intact core of Mika Reyes, Rhea Dimaculangan, Remy Palma, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons.
“The core of Petron has been together for a long time. They are a strong and deep team. They have a very good system,” he said.
“We have to double our efforts and follow the game plan.”