Petron needed one full set to get going and secure its fourth straight women’s division win yesterday in the 2014 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix volleyball presented by Asics at Cuneta Astrodome.
After dropping the tightly fought opening set, Petron raised its game by several notches to hack out a 28-30, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19 win over RC Cola-Air Force.
Powered by by triple towers Alaina Bersgma, Erika Adachi and Dindin Santiago, the Blaze Spikers, who are looking to sweep the first round, slapped a second loss in four games for the Raiders.
Bergsma finished with 26 points, including 21 kills, while Santiago chipped in 17, including 14 spikes.
RC Cola-Air Force leaned heavily on imports Bonita Wise and Emily Brown who made 14 points apiece, with local Maika Ortiz adding 12.
In the first women’s match, Generika nailed its first win at the expense of Foton, 15-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-15.
The Life Savers improved its record to 1-2 while the Tornadoes wasted a big first-set performance to absorb their third straight defeat.
Natalia Korobkova fired 21 points for Generika, while Stephanie Mercado added 15.
Aby Marano finished with 10 points for the Life Savers, including a block at match point to cap the Life Savers’ rally.
Japanese setter Miyu Shinohara fanned out 28 excellent sets to put Generika’s offense up and running, something her Russian partner gladly translated into points.