Petron Blaze Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Defending champion Petron clashes with streaking Foton Saturday in the “Spike on Tour” of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball at De La Salle Lipa gym in Lipa City.
The Blaze Spikers can tie the idle Philips Gold Lady Slammers on top with a seventh win, but the Tornadoes may have other ideas after posting four straight wins.
Petron, Foton, Philips Gold and Cignal are assured of berths in the semifinals slated Nov. 19.
That leaves the match between the Raiders and the Power Spikers without significance except for sheer morale boost before they end the conference.
“We are still focused on the eliminations and win as many as we can to gather momentum,” said Petron coach George Pascua.
He stated the importance of going into the semis coming from wins because “semis is a different ballgame, every body only gets one chance.”
Though owning the most balanced team, the Blaze Spikers are up against the rampaging Tornadoes who are leaving a trail of destruction late in the eliminations.
Foton coach Vilet Ponce de Leon said they are going in full force and won’t be afraid of peaking prematurely.
“All coaches know that, but we have a program and so far we are on track,” said De Leon.
One attraction in the out-of-town sortie is the match-up at the middle position between Petron’s Dindin Manabat and sister Jaja Santiago of Foton.
The Tornadoes will also get their scoring load on Lindsay Stalzer and Katie Messing, while the Blaze Spikers will derive strength on setter Erica Adachi and scorers Rupia Inck, Rachel Anne Daquis, Aby Marano and Manabat.