F2 shuts out Petron for PSL crown

F2 Logistics celebrate after defeating Petron, bagging the 2018 PSL Invitational Conference crown.
F2 Logistics celebrate after defeating Petron, bagging the 2018 PSL Invitational Conference crown.

F2 Logistics penned a fitting ending to its storied journey as it dominated Petron, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals duel to run away with the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference title last night at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

Riding on the crest of their amazing come-from-behind Game 1 victory, the Cargo Movers saved their best performance for last as they swept the Blaze Spikers in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

Unlike their 18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 29-27, 18-16 Game 1 win last Thursday, the Cargo Movers did not needed to make a comeback as Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron and Cha Cruz-Behag buckled down to work early on before delivering clutch hits to pull away with a 23-17 lead in the fourth set.

Bernadeth Pons committed a crucial attack error to formally hand the championship point to the Cargo Movers and win the midseason conference that also has Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

Ara Galang was hailed as the Most Valuable Player and capped her resurgent conference unleashing 15 points built on 11 spikes, three blocks and an ace, including 17 receptions to give F2 Logistics its first Invitational title and third overall championship.

Aby Maraño also scored 15 points highlighted by six blocks, while the conference’s 2nd Best Middle Blocker Majoy Baron and skipper Cha Cruz-Behag added 10 markers apiece.

Best Setter Kim Fajardo was also instrumental with 33 excellent sets on top of 21 digs and three points as well as Best Libero Dawn Macandili, who had 26 digs.

After convincingly winning the first set, the Cargo Movers squandered an 18-9 lead in the second set and allowed the Blaze Spikers to trim it within two, 22-20, before Sisi Rondina waxed hot nailing five of the last six points to equalize the match one-set apiece.

F2 Logistics also had a hard time in closing out the third frame blowing a 24-19 advantage as Petron cut it down to just one but Maraño denied another collapse and hit the set-winning spike to inch one set closer from the crown.

Petron settled for silver with Rondina, the 2nd Best Outside Spiker of the conference, giving her all on both ends with 20 points including 20 digs and 12 excellent receptions. Pons and skipper Ces Molina added 13 and 11 hits, respectively, while setter Rhea Dimaculangan made 37 excellent sets on top of 20 digs and three markers.

The 1st Best Middle Blocker Mika Reyes and Best Opposite Spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas struggled in Game Two with five and three points, respectively.

The other individual awardees were Cignal’s Rachel Anne Daquis (1st Best Outside Spiker) and Generika-Ayala’s Patty Orendain (Best Scorer).