PSL: Cargo Movers make it four straight wins

F2 Logistics marched to its fourth straight Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference finals appearance as it knocked out Foton, 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-19, in the semifinals Tuesday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

The Cargo Movers didn’t waste their twice-to-beat advantage as Kalei Mau, Majoy Baron and Kianna Dy nailed the finishing touches in the fourth set to eliminate the Tornadoes led by sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat in two hours and 12 minutes.

Mau reached her first PSL Finals leading the Cargo Movers with 16 points on top of 12 dugs and eight excellent receptions, while skipper Aby Marano had nine kills and three blocks for 12 points.

Kalei Mau over Jaja Santiago
Kalei Mau over Jaja Santiago

Galang and Baron were also instrumental with nine and seven points, respectively.

Kim Fajardo dished out 24 excellent sets while Dawn Macandili had 30 digs.

“Well, Foton was a big challenge. But entering the Finals will be our biggest test. This is an unfinished business for us,” said F2 Logistics head coach Ramil De Jesus, who last won the All-Filipino title in their debut in 2016.

Since joining three years ago, F2 Logistics has been in the All-Filipino finals and reached the PSL championship round for seven consecutive times out of its eight overall appearances.

The best-of-three finals series is set on Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum with F2 Logistics battling the winner of the other semifinals pairing between reigning champion Petron or Cignal.

The Cargo Movers failed to close out the match in the third set as the Tornadoes leaned on their fiery 5-0 start sparked by Ivy Perez’s three straight aces 23-15, while the Santiago Sisters, Shaya Adorador and Eya Laure, 23-15 and forced another set.

F2 Logistics erased a 13-14 deficit scoring seven unanswered points led by Marano, Galang and Mau for a 20-14 lead before Baron delivered back-to-back points for a 22-15 breather but Manabat and Eya Laure conspired for a 3-0 run to trim it to just four.

Kianna Dy stopped the bleeding, 23-18, while back-to-back attack errors from Foton let F2 Logistics moved to the finals of this prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport.

Jaja and Dindin carried the Tornadoes with 20 and 15 points, respectively, while Marian Buitre and Laure had 10 and nine points for Foton, which gave up 37 errors to be relegated in the bronze match on Saturday.