Blaze Spikers, Cargo Movers kick off title duel

Games Today (The Arena, San Juan City) 4:15 p.m. – Cocolife vs Foton (3rd) 7 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron (Game 1)

Petron and F2 Logistics aim to satiate their thirst for the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix title when they start the best-of-three championship series today at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Blaze Spikers try to duplicate their 2014 title feat while the Cargo Movers seek their first Grand Prix title in the five-year-old league.

Match starts at 7 p.m. after Cocolife and Foton battle for the bronze medal in the 4:15 p.m. curtainraiser.

Petron and F2 Logistics are coming off contrasting fortunes in the knockout semifinals, with the Blaze Spikers surviving a hard-fought 30-28, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21 victory over the defending champion Foton Tornadoes and the Cargo Movers cruising to a 25-17, 25-16, 25-17 triumph over the Cocolife Asset Managers.

It’s a different ballgame this time, though, for both teams.

F2 Logistics coach Ramil De Jesus stressed they are not looking at their 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22 eliminations victory over Petron as an advantage, saying that a lot has changed since they first met the Blaze Spikers last Nov. 4.

“Matagal na yung laro na yun. Marami nang adjustments ang ginawa ng Petron since manalo kami sa kanila kaya hindi namin iniisip na mas lamang kami sa kanila,” said De Jesus.

He added that as pressure mounts, they need to increase their level of play as well now that they are in the final stage of the tournament.

“Hindi naman kami pressured na mag-champion pero syempre, hindi lahat nabibigyan ng opportunity na mag-finals, kaya kailangan itodo na namin yung preparation namin,” De Jesus said.

For Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, they are clinging on their upset win over Foton to boost their morale going to the finals.

“Malaking achievement sa amin yung manalo kami sa Foton kasi defending champion yan eh. Pero alam din namin yung quality ng game ng F2 Logistics kaya paghahandaan namin sila,” said Delos Santos.

It will be a battle of strong imports as F2 Logistics parade Maria Jose Perez and Kennedy Bryan against Petron’s Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley. The Perez-Bryan tandem combined for 31 points in the semis, while the StalzerHurley duo conspired for 49 points.

The strength of their local players will also play a vital role in their matchup with F2 Logistics boasting its young and agile lineup in Kim Dy, Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron and Aby Maraño, while Petron has Mika Reyes, Ces Molina, Rhea Dimaculangan and Aiza Pontillas.

But for Delos Santos, the battle will go beyond the statistics.

“Para sa akin, hindi lang ito labanan ng imports or locals or stats. Labanan to kung sino ang may heart and desire,” Delos Santos said.

Game 2 is on Thursday at the same venue, while Game 3, if necessary, is on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.