Sta. Lucia notches maiden PSL victory

Danika Gendrauli of Sta. Lucia Realty defies this Cherrylume defense during their game in the Rebisco-Philippine Superliga Philippine (PSL) All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Mar-Jana Phillips brought Sta. Lucia Realty its first win in the Philippine Superliga.

The Filipino-American spiker accounted for 25 points to lead the Lady Realtors to a 25-20, 21-25, 25-17, 25-16 victory over Cherrylume Saturday in the All-Filipino Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

“We’re still a work in progress, but we really wanted to get this win,” said Phillips, who was born in Zambales and raised in Carson, California.

The former stalwart of Juniata College in Division III of the United States NCAA scored 23 of her points in attacks as she thrived on dynamic setting by Djanel Cheng, who tossed 14 excellent sets.

Sta. Lucia’s win stole some of the limelight from the second game, where F2 Logistics picked up its second straight victory after drubbing Cocolife, 25-16, 25-12, 25-16.

The Cargo Movers are now at 2-2 in Pool D, while the Asset Managers fell to 1-3.

F2 Logistics, led by Majoy Baron’s 10 points, had 35 attacks to frustrate Cocolife, which made 23. The Cargo Movers also had fewer errors, 16, compared to 30 by the Asset Managers.

Sta Lucia’s win, the first for the Lady Realtors since joining the league, bolstered its standings in Pool D. But more importantly, it provided the morale boost they needed after undergoing a solid buildup in the offseason.

New acquisition Pam Lastimosa scored 13 points, while Janine Navarro and Danika Gendrauli chipped in nine points apiece.

“We served really tough and passed really well,” said the 6-foot Phillips as the Lady Realtors had 34 excellent digs compared to 22 by the Iron Ladies.

Cherrylume, made up of young university players, absorbed its fourth defeat in as many games.