[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Petron deals Foton first Superliga loss ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – Petron Blaze Spikers displayed its firepower from start to finish and dealt Foton Tornadoes its first defeat 25-21, 25-22, 12-25, 25-20 in the Chooks To Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.
Lindsay Stalzer, who steered Tornadoes to back-to-back Grand Prix titles, anchored Blaze Spikers’ offense with 23 points while fellow American import Hillary Hurley chipped in with 20 markers on Tuesday night at the San Juan Arena.
With the victory, Blaze Spikers moved up to solo first place with a 5-1 win-loss record, while two-time defending champion Tornadoes dropped to third (4-1).
From a tight start, Blaze Spikers surged to a 15-9 lead on consecutive points from Hurley. Tornadoes launched its own rally to come to within 20-23 but back-to-back conversions from Hurley ended the set.
In the second set, Petron was behind 9-10 when it launched a 9-0 run from Stalzer and Hurley to build an 18-10 lead. Foton chopped the deficit to as low as 22-24 but a service error by Genie Sabas gave Blaze Spikers a 2-0 set lead.
After dropping the third set, Petron countered with a strong start in the fourth for an 11-5 edge. The lead grew to 20-11 on a Rhea Dimaculangan ace before Blaze Spikers thwarted Foton’s late run.
“Sobrang thankful kami kay Lord dahil sobra naming inaral ang laro ng Foton,” said Petron head coach Ceseal delos Santos. “Iyon naman kasi ang kailangan and lahat naman ng kalaban namin grabe din namin inaaral.”
In the first game, Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors finally barged into the win column after a 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 straight-set victory over guest team Victoria Sports-University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
