Petron, F2 renew rivalry
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2019 16:00:16 +0000
Petron’s Katherine Bell blocks F2 Logistics’ Becky Perry in the first round of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on March 7, at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. (PSL Photo)
By Rafael Bandayrel
Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
4 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Sta. Lucia
6 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron
It will be a clash of titans as league-leading Petron takes on rival F2 Logistics in the second round of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at The Arena in San Juan City.
In their initial encounter this season, Petron emerged a 23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-18 victor behind their one-two punch in Katherine Bell and Stephanie Niemer, who combined for 53 points.
Bell dominated with31 points off 26 attacks while Niemer contributed with 22 points and 23 digs.
Meanwhile, American star Lindsay Stalzer – who helped the Blaze Spikers win the crown last year against the Cargo Movers – finished with 21 points against her former squad.
Both coming off victories, the Blaze Spikers hunt for their 11th straight win while the second-seed Cargo Movers hope to nail their 9th win in 12 starts.
Last Tuesday, Bell produced 19 points against PLDT to spearhead the defending champions to a 25-18, 25-21, 25-14 triumph.
A Stalzer-less F2, on the other hand, relied on Becky Perry and Ara Galang who scored 14 points each to earn a 25-21, 25-19, 25-19 victory Thursday against lowly Sta. Lucia.
At 4 p.m., meanwhile, the Lady Realtors will face the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers in the afternoon’s curtain-jerker.
Toting a 3-7 win-loss card, the Lifesavers are fresh from a grueling five-set victory over Foton late Thursday and a win over the Lady Realtors will improve their chances at claiming one of the four twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals.
The Blaze Spikers were so dominating they won all but one set in their past 10 matches. (Rafael Bandayrel)