IT’S going to be F2 Logistics and Petron for the sixth straight time in the Philippine Superliga Finals.
F2 Logistics survived a heated encounter with PLDT Home Fibr, 26-24, 26-24. 25-17, on Thursday to complete a sweep of their best-of-three semifinal series and advance to the Grand Prix Finals at the Arena in San Juan City.
Imports Lindsay Stalzer and MJ Perez once again delivered the goods for the Cargo Movers with 16 points apiece to lead the team to a third straight Grand Prix Finals and seventh finals appearance overall since joining the league in 2016.
Majoy Baron and Ara Galang had eight points each. Playmaker Alex Cabanos made 16 excellent sets and fired four of the team’s eight aces, while Dawn Macandili had 16 digs and six excellent receptions.
The Best-of-three Finals showdown of F2 Logistics and Petron begins on Tuesday.
F2 Logistics head coach Ramil De Jesus admitted they had a hard time beating a PLDT side that displayed strong cohesion the entire series.
“Hindi naging madaling kalaban 'yung PLDT, kumbaga nag-jell na yung team nila, yung connection ng middle, imports at saka yung setter, okay e,” De Jesus said. “Sa side naman namin nangangapa pa rin sa isa’t isa hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin confident yung team sa ginagawa ng setter namin.”
“Good thing lang kasi kahit papaano pagdating ng huli nagagawan ng paraan ng mga players and nababawi naman ni Alex doon sa pagse-serve at saka defense,” he added.
Tempers flared in the third set when PLDT head coach Roger Gorayeb was slapped with a yellow and red card and sent to the penalty box for vehemently complaining about what he claimed should be a lifting violation on Stalzer with the Power Hitters down by just one, 12-13.
De Jesus said he understood Gorayeb’s anger.
“Actually hindi natin masisisi kung yun yung nakita ni coach Roger, marami din namang mga bad calls talaga. Wala namang bias, hindi naman biased,” [...]
* This article was originally published here
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