Generika outlasts Cocolife

Games Thursday (Filoil Flying V Centre) 3 p.m. – Cocolife vs Foton 5 p.m. – Cignal vs Petron

Generika-Ayala spoiled the debut of Cocolife behind Gen Casugod and won 25-20, 25-15, 21-25, 25-16 in the opener of the Belo-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Casugod led the way with 17 points as the Lifesavers shut down the Asset Managers after a third-set scare to start their campaign on the high note in the tournament bankrolled by Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller and Grand Sport with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Angeli Araneta added 12 points while Patty Orendain scored 11 for Generika, which underwent a massive buildup by acquiring four players from reigning Grand Prix champion Foton and one player from Petron.

Generika coach Francis Vicente believes his team can make waves with his current squad.

“We’re more balanced this time,” said Vicente. “Magaan silang kasama, magaan ang samahan. Hindi pa kami nagti-team building pero magaan silang kasama agad.”

Vicente was quick to praise the 6-foot-2 Casugod, who was installed as team captain prior to the start of the conference also backed by UCPB Gen as official insurance provider and Gold’s Gym as official fitness partner.

“Syempre, kailangan niya magpakitang gilas. Captain ball namin siya eh. She has to step up. Sayang kasi 6’2 siya tapos malamya siya. So kailangan pagigihan nya,” he said.

Generika could have ended it in the third set, but Cocolife’s Andrea Marzan gave her team a 23-20 lead after a 19-all deadlock. Regine Arocha connected an ace before Michelle Gumabao fired a kill to force a fourth set.