PSL: Blaze Spikers dismantle Lady Realtors for eighth straight win

ANTIPOLO–Reigning champion Petron roared to its eighth straight win, making short work of Sta. Lucia, 25-13, 25-10, 25-13, in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at Ynares Center here.

Sisi Rondina was back to her big-scoring ways to lead the Blaze Spikers past the struggling Lady Realtors entering the crucial stretch of the elimination round.

Rondina unleashed 18 kills, two blocks and two aces to finish with 22 points and seven digs for the Blaze Spikers, who rose to 10-1 overall.

F2 Logistics, unbeaten in 10 games, was playing lowly Marinerang Pilipina at press time.

Ces Molina and Remy Palma were also instrumental with seven and six points, respectively, while Bernadeth Pons had five points and seven digs for Petron, which missed the services of Mika Reyes.

“I’m happy and satisfied with the win. We showed another great performance, but we have to work harder so we could sustain our momentum for our succeeding matches,” said Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos.

The Lady Realtors absorbed their 11th loss in 13 games, and if Petron stays at No. 2 and Sta. Lucia seventh, they will ultimately clash again in the knockout quarterfinals.

“With our standings right now, we might face them again in the quarterfinals. We have to prepare well for that. But for now we need to focus on our last three preliminary matches,” Delos Santos said.

Petron dominated at the attack zone with 38 kills while limiting Sta. Lucia to just 16.

The Blaze Spikers also fired eight aces unlike the Lady Realtors, who failed to score a single ace and gave up 21 errors.

Filipino-American spiker MJ Phillips had to return to the United States to attend to pressing family concerns.

Rachel Austero and Amanda Villanueva delivered seven points apiece for the Lady Realtors.