Foton slams Generika
Games Tuesday (Bacoor Sports Center) 4:15 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs Generika-Ayala 7 p.m. — Cocolife vs Cignal
Skipper Dindin Santiago-Manabat made a triumphant return yesterday as Foton turned back Generika-Ayala, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22, for an auspicious start in the 2018 Chooks to GoPhilippine Superliga (PSL)Grand Prix at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Proving she’s fully recovered from a left knee injury that sidelined her in the tourney’s previous edition, the 6-foot-3 Santiago fired away 14 points, five of them off service aces, as she teamed up with power-hitting import Brooke Kranda in leading the Tornadoes’ against the erratic Lifesavers.
“Mind-setting lang naman kasi ‘yung kailangan kay Dindin. Sabi naman ng mga PTs (physical therapists) namin, 100 percent healed na siya. Good thing nag-step up siya ngayon,” said Foton coach Rommel Abella, who also made a victorious league debut.
The 6-foot-6 Kranda displayed her offensive prowess with a game-best 21 points, capped by the game-clinching crosscourt wallop, while fellow American, southpaw Elizabeth Wendel, added 11 points, including three blocks.
Abella, however, sounded quite pleased with his imports’ combined performance, saying: We were expecting a little more. But since this is just their first game here in the Philippines, medyo acceptable pa ‘yung ginalaw nila kanina. Hopefully they can still provide us a little more offensive power for our next game.”
Returning Darlene Ramdin tallied all but two of her 19-point output on the offensive side but fellow reinforcement Symone Hayden groped for form, coming up with just seven points, and was not even utilized by Lifesavers coach Sherwin Meneses in the fourth and decisive frame.
Meanwhile, last year’s losing finalist Petron started its road to redemption in style with a 25-21, 18-25, 25-17, 25-20 victory over Sta. Lucia Realty.
Prolific import Lindsay Stalzer proved unstoppable with a game-high 30 points, built around 22 kills, six service aces and two blocks, while fellow American Hillary Hurley added 18 points as the Blaze Spikers needed just one hour and 47 minutes to defeat the Lady Realtors.