Despite missing Brazilian setter Erica Adachi, Petron still proved too strong against an out-of-sorts RC Cola-Air Force side Tuesday night.
The Blaze Spikers opted for local playmaker Mary Grace Masangkay and still got their old, trusted system running smoothly to fashion out a 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-10 victory in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
It was big morale boost for the Blaze Spikers, who ended the first-round elimination with a 3-2 record.
“We needed this win,” said Petron coach George Pascua, noting that they came into the match hurting from a five-set defeat against Philips Gold.
Allergies that caused rashes all over her body sidelined Adachi, who still went to the venue in uniform to lend support. Doctors can’t pin down the cause of the allergy but it began when Adachi went to Bataan last week.
It hardly mattered, though, as the Blaze Spikers effectively destroyed the Raiders who absorbed their second loss in three games.
Rupia Inck led Petron with 15 points, Frances Molina added 13, while Dindin Manabat and Rachel Anne Daquis each accounted for 13 markers.
The Raiders, who were visibly struggling in defense in the absence of an able libero, relied too heavily on imports Sara McClinton, who delivered 21 points, and Lynda Morales, who chipped in 18.
“Now we are more confident because we know how the teams played,” said Pascua. “In the second round we’re going to use a different strategy.”
RC Cola’s woes were brought on mainly by poor reception that hindered the Raiders from using the full offensive brilliance of both Morales and McClinton.
“We saw that as the game goes on, their [locals] endurance is suspect,” said Petron coach George Posadas. “Later in the game, it was only the imports who are taking the fight.”
In the second game, Philips Gold struck with a second straight victory at the expense of hapless Meralco, 25-19, 21-25, 27-25, 25-23.
The Lady Slammers, behind the hard-hitting import Bojana Todorovic’s 23 points, climbed the standings with 2-1, while the Power Spikers remained winless after finishing their first round assignments, 0-5.
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