ALL STRATEGIES get tossed out the window as Foton and F2 Logistics go mano a mano for the right to lay claim to the Philippine Superliga All Filipino Conference title today.
After splitting the first two games of the best-of-three title series, the Tornadoes and the Cargo Movers clash for all marbles at 5 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Conference individual awards will be held right after the game with Mika Reyes expected to win the Most Valuable Player award, if F2 Logistics wins, or Jaja Santiago, if Foton does.
Offhand, Foton carries the championship savvy and enjoys the shift in momentum after winning Game 2 last Saturday (18-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-18), where it took control of F2 Logistics’ edge in speed and firepower.
The Tornadoes charged their serves and directed them to F2 chief gunner Ara Galang while toning down to a pace that best suited Foton main weapons Jaja Santiago and Cherry Rondina.
“We were finally able to solve our problems in Game 1,” said Foton coach Vilet Ponce-de Leon. “But everything will be worthless if we don’t win Game 3. We have to be at our best for one last time this conference.”
De Leon is also mentoring the Tornadoes, who will represent the country in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Women’s Club Championship from Sept. 3 to 11 in Biñan City in Laguna.
“It never crossed my mind,” said De Leon when asked if the AVC stint plays a part in the ongoing championship. “We take it one game at a time, one day at a time,” she said.
F2 Logistics won Game 1 (25-20, 25-14, 9-25, 20-25, 15-10) using highly-charged serves and a dizzying pace anchored on young talents like Galang, Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, Kim Dy and veterans Aby Maraño and Cha Cruz.
But Game 2 opened a can of worms for the Cargo Movers, who tend to lose composure when the Tornadoes start wreaking havoc.
F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus refused interview requests after Game 2, although the UAAP champion coach earlier stated that his wards need to show maturity and not lose focus when the going gets tough.