F2 Logistics Cargo Movers celebrate a point against Cignal HD Spikers. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—F2 Logistics gutted out a tough sweep against Cignal, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23, in the Premiere Volleyball League’s All-Filipino Conference at Philsports Arena on Sunday.
After needing five long sets to survive Creamline in their high-profile clash last week, the Cargo Movers, who improved to 4-1, this time needed only an hour and 47 minutes to defeat the HD Spikers.
“This is our goal, to finish games faster and to dominate games so I think we’re on the right track. Hopefully, these moments continue,” said coach Regine Diego.
A sweep, however, does not always mean easy work and that was evident in the third and final set of F2’s win.
After several nips and tucks in the match-sealing set, Toni Basas broke the 22-all deadlock with a crosscourt kill to bring Cignal up, 23-22 before Kim Kianna Dy then took matters into her own hands and scored two straight points to bring the Cargo Movers to match point.
Cha Cruz-Behag sealed the victory with a kill.
The HD Spikers, who fell to a 1-4 card, tried to put up a fight but couldn’t get the finishing kick it needed to salvage a set.
With F2 in the driver’s seat in the second set, 17-12, the HD Spikers unloaded a 7-2 rally to shave the deficit to one, 20-19. Abby Maraño halted the run and the Cargo Movers managed to get back the momentum with Dy’s spike and Kim Fajardo’s ace wrapping up the set.
In the opening set, Aby Maraño brought F2 Logistics to set point with a block. Fajardo attempted a spike that resulted in a net violation, followed by a Myla Pablo outside violation, giving Cignal some life.
With the Cargo Movers up by just one, 24-23, Maraño called a ceasefire to the errors and converted a running attack to give F2 the 1-0 set advantage.
Dy scored 22 points on 21 spikes while Maraño ended with 14 to her name, built on seven blocks.
No players scored in double-digits for Cignal with Rose Doria topping the stat sheets with nine markers.