Lindsay Stalzer of Petron is block by Shirley Salamagos and Rebecca Rivera of Sta. Lucia. INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Petron woke up from a third-set slumber to pull off a 27-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-14 victory over Sta. Lucia Realty in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix Thursday night at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
American imports Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley took up the cudgels for at the attack zone once more to lead the Blaze Spikers to their second straight victory.
Stalzer accounted for 28 kills and an ace for 29 points, while Hurley wreaked havoc with 25 kills, a block and an ace for 27 points as they conspired for more than half of Petron’s 70-point production off spikes.
Mika Reyes was the lone local who finished in double figures for Petron with 11 points laced with three blocks.
Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos said that while credit should be given to their imports, it was still a team effort as his wards maintained their composure to weather a furious rally from the Lady Realtors, who welcomed their new import in Bohdana Anisova of Ukraine.
“Sta. Lucia played really well. It was obvious that they really wanted to bounce back,” said Delos Santos, who steered the Blaze Spikers to the All-Filipino Conference crown early this year.
“We survived even if our game is not what we wanted it to be. Good thing we controlled it and we were able to pull off the victory.”
Delos Santos noted that their sluggish reception and poor services as well as the Lady Realtors’ solid blocking hounded them in the third set, allowing Sta. Lucia to stretch the match to fourth set.
“We struggled in our services and receives in the third set,” he said. “Their blocking was also solid and quality, especially their imports. We really had a hard time matching their intensity.”