F2 captures PSL invitational title, sweeps Petron

F2 Logistics turned in an inspired performance and turned back Petron in four sets, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, for the 2018 Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference championship Saturday at Ynares Sports Center.

The Cargo Movers brushed off an early set deficit and pounced on the Blaze Spikers building a 22-16 lead after Mary Joy Baron’s quick hit.

A couple of errors eventually gave F2 the 24-17 match point while Aby Maraño’s short hit gave Petron its last gasp of air, 24-18.

Bernadeth Pons sealed the championship for F2 when she sent her final attack way off the baseline.

F2 managed to shake off Petron’s comeback in the second set that saw Cherry Rondina scored the Blaze Spikers’ last five points, including three straight in the final exchanges.

“What I saw were the lapses especially in the second set,” said F2 head coach Ramil De Jesus in Filipino. “I always say that you won’t see an advantage against Petron because we all have the same skills so it all boils down to who has the bigger heart and who has the better IQ.”

“We won so that means we wanted this win more.”

Maraño and Ara Galang both had 15 points to lead the Cargo Movers while Baron and Cha Cruz-Behag had 10 points apiece.

Rondina led all scorers with 20 points for Petron while Mika Reyes and Ces Molina had 13 and 11 points, respectively.