Petron, Cignal square off with solo PSL lead at stake

Petron and Cignal HD battle it out for overall leadership while Mane ‘N Tail and Foton clash for win No. 1 today in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix volleyball tournament presented by Asics at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

The Blaze Spikers of Petron, powered by beauty queen-turned spiker Alaina Bergsma and Erica Adachi, have so far collected two victories at the expense of Mane ‘N Tail and Generika.

Petron coach George Pascua, however, said the true test of the team’s character will come against the Cignal HD Spikers, who have assembled a similar 2-0 record on wins over RC Cola-Air Force and Mane ‘N Tail.

“We expect the game to go down the wire because pride is at stake and nobody would want to lose. It all boils down to who wants it more,” he said.

Cignal HD is powered by Americans Sarah Ammerman and Lindsay Stalzer.

Coach Sammy Acaylar said Cignal will lean on the two reinforcements who “know how to play and communicate with their local teammates. These girls will squeeze out the best in them playing against a tough team like Petron.”

Also on tap is the debut of PLDT Home Telpad and neophyte team Cavite in the men’s action at 6 p.m.

Before that, Mane ‘N Tail and Foton slug it out to join the rank of winners.

With the absence of three-time champion Philippine Army, Petron suddenly became the title favorite, especially with top rookie Dindin Santiago playing alongside Bergsma and Adachi.

Santiago managed to score 11 points against Mane ‘N Tail last Saturday in Ilocos Sur despite the presence of the two imports. In that game, Bergsma, the 6-foot-3 beauty who represented Oregon in the 2012 Miss America pageant, finished with 25 points, while Adachi had 53 excellent sets.  Marc Anthony Reyes