Foton rallies to steal Game 1 from Petron, nears crown

Foton turned things around through sheer grit by import Lindsay Stalzer to snatch Game 1 away from Petron, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-9, last night in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix championship series.

The Tornadoes clawed back from two sets down and a 3-8 deficit in the fifth to nail the epic win and move a victory away from taking the crown before a big crowd that stayed late in the evening at FilOil Flying V Center.

They can take it all on Saturday in Game 2 at Philsports Arena.

Foton started slow and allowed Petron to zoom away with the first two sets as the Tornadoes got stunned by the Tri Activ Spikers’ solid defense and Stephanie Niemer’s explosive power.

“Petron played well. I respect Petron, it’s a good team,” said Foton coach Moro Branislav. “But today we had better play, and Jaja Santiago played an important role.”

But for him, Game 2 is the most important of all.

“Maybe in Game 2 Jaja will even be better,” said Branislav of his 6-foot-5 ward who hurt her ankle in the third set but went on to play.

“It’s amazing that we came back. We showed that we are a good team,” said Foton import  Stalzer. “Everyone is giving their best. Every point it’s going higher and higher.”

She also denied having a “personal duel” with Petron import Niemer.

Stalzer finished with 30 points, while Ariel Usher had 19 for Foton. Niemer wound up with 30 for Petron.

Earlier,  F2 Logistics subdued Cola-Army, 25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 18-16, and took the bronze medal.

With the franchise winning the All-Filipino and finishing third in the Grand Prix, F2 Logistics coach Ramil De Jesus said the Cargo Movers management has expressed interest in supporting the team on a more permanent basis.

“That’s what they said, especially with the players contracts to be implemented next year,” said De Jesus.

His club, made up of his current and former players from La Salle, has carried the name of several PSL franchises but only for short periods.

This time, he said, F2 Logistics proved they are worthy of a long-term commitment.

The Cargo Movers and the Lady Troopers fought in a nail-biting match that served as the appetizer to the Game 1 of the finals between Foton and Petron at FilOil Flying V Center.