Cargo Movers clobber High Speed Hitters, near bronze

F2 LOGISTIcs delivered the goods it had failed to dispatch in its semis faceoff with Creamline although it needed to hurdle an early slip to fashion out a 2025, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17 victory and close in on the bronze medal in the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference before a huge Sunday crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Aby Maraño put up a rare stellar offensive play of 14 attacks but it was her solid net defense that helped anchor the Cargo Movers’ domination of the High Speed Hitters in the last three sets, coming away with five blocks for a highly productive 19-point effort as F2 Logistics moved a win away from posting its best finish in the country’s premier women’s volley league.

“Perhaps, we were just adjusting early on. But I felt the fire inside me in the second set,” said Maraño, who shone with her signature running attacks on her way to clinching the game’s top honors.

Her inspired performance also rubbed off on her teammates.

Kim Dy fired 20 points, including 15 on attacks and a couple of aces, while Ara Galang came away with 13 markers and Majoy Baron added nine points to underscore F2 Logistics’ balanced offensive sock. But the Cargo Movers took control of the High Speed Hitters by doubling up on blocking, finishing with an eye-popping 18 blocks against their rivals’ six, which matched Galang’s impressive block effort.

That set the tone for their victory that in the early stretch had looked like an enormous task for the Cargo Movers after they succumed to the High Speed Hitters’ power and smarts in the opening frame aided by their erratic stint at the service area that netted the latter five points.

“‘Di pa rin pwede mag relax, dapat mas maging aggressive pa kami,” added Maraño heading to tomorrow’s Game 2.

“I don’t mind kung ano ung points na naibigay ko sa team, ang importante sa akin yung panalo,” added the former La Salle stalwart, who along with her teammates, also drew inspiration from former mentor Ramil de Jesus.

For coach Regine Diego, she stressed the need for her wards to assert their might early, saying: “Kailangan na kunin agad. We have to play with more fire and be able to check our errors. But I think we’re on the right track.”