Cagayan blanks Petron in PSL Grand Prix opener

MANILA, Philippines — Pau Soriano mistimed her jump but still managed to get a point on a tip before cracking a smile. Aiza Maizo, too, beamed after her attempt fell short.

Playing loose, Cagayan Valley made short work of Petron, 25-20, 25-14, 25-22, in the opener of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) Grand Prix Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Soriano, the former Adamson ace,  scored 11 points with two blocks and was fielded back in to restore order at the net with the Blaze Spikers threatening.

Cagayan was just two points away from securing the win after Maizo’s service ace made it, 23-16, before Petron rallied – pouncing on unforced errors by the Lady Rising Suns.

Despite the easy win, Soriano knows Cagayan still has a lot of room for improvement especially at this early stage of the second conference.

“We’re still adjusting. We still have to build on our jelling,” Soriano said in Filipino during a brief interview just moments after the game.

Thai import Jeng Kotruang led the Lady Suns with 12 points, all on attacks. Dzi Gervacio had nine points, three coming off blocks, for the Blaze Spikers.

Petron is clearly not the same team as it was when it finished third in the league’s first conference last July with Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero, their key players last time, transferring to Cagayan.