WHO CAN stop F2 Logistics from going all the way to the title in the All-Filipino Conference of the Philippine Superliga?
After last Saturday’s jampacked showdown won by the Cargo Movers over the RC Cola-Army Lady Troopers, volleyball fans are left with the question as to who else can derail F2 from taking the conference title.
Both teams were undefeated after six games heading into Saturday’s match and were, as expected, destined for a five-set thriller. Living up to its billing, both teams battled hard, with F2 surviving RC Cola-Army’s recovery and closed out the match in the final frame.
F2’s strengths lie in its core of La Salle players who have been through many UAAP wars over the last six years. Depending on where you start counting, the core has won at least four collegiate titles. Many of the players like Aby Maraño, Kim Fajardo, Ara Galang, Kim Dy, Cha Cruz, Mika Reyes and Stephanie Mercado have been under the wings of coach Ramil de Jesus for quite some time.
This familiarity fosters chemistry and has resulted in enabling every fielded player to be a weapon on the court. This is a unique advantage because defenses are baffled as to whom to eye closely. In spite of the net that separates the two teams on the floor, bantayan (guarding) is a defensive mechanism that watches out for the top scorers of the other teams. That’s not easy to do against a team that has chemistry and can concoct a variety of scoring options.
Many setters like to play porsiento, the local volleyball term for going to your best scorer. F2’s Fajardo has the alternative luxury of going to a variety of players for scoring and does not rely solely on one or two options.
The trick perhaps is to stay interested in the match, as what the Lady Troopers did in their battle. In spite of losing the first two sets, RC Cola-Army stayed in the thick of things, played their game and went to their scorers like Rachel Anne Dacquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga. The biggest mistake teams have made against F2 Logistics is to lose interest and simply watch the fireworks uncorked by the Cargo Movers.
Who will be left to seriously contend against F2 as the second phase of classification begins? Petron Tri Activ and the Foton Tornadoes could give the Cargo Movers a serious challenge as well if they crank up the intensity of their games. The Lady Troopers will continue to be the strongest opponent, though, with their experience and offensive weapons being their strongest assets.
These teams must deploy more creative attacking options given that F2 uses blocking as both a defensive and offensive weapon. Not too many open attacks surprise the tireless blocking of Maraño and Reyes and so other ruses have to be cooked up.
The All-Filipino Conference is sparking the interest of volleyball fans because many of their favorite players are seeing action. This should spill over into the two international events the country is hosting—the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship on Sept. 3 to 11 at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna, and the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at Mall of Asia Arena on Oct. 18 to 23.