Petron, Foton tossers in winner-take-all duel
It has come to whoever wants it more.
Contending coaches are of the same mind ahead of the decisive collision today pitting defending champion Petron and Foton in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball championship series.
Petron coach George Pascua said they would throw gameplans out the window and simply work on instinct and their desire to win a third straight league title.
“This is Game 3; everything I need to tell the players they know already. It’s all up to them once they get to the court,” said Pascua. “Whoever has the desire and the fighting heart will win the crown.”
The Blaze Spikers are hoping to match the record of Philippine Army, which won the league’s first three conferences.
Foton coach Vilet Ponce de Leon, whose wards won Game 1 (14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22), sparking hopes of a Cinderella finish for the franchise, said the Tornadoes will need more than luck to prevail.
“We will put premium on defense,” said De Leon. “Offense scores, but defense wins games. Luck brought us here because we had much luck in the eliminations and the semifinals. So it’s time for us to work and do our part.”
The Blaze Spikers need their vast championship experience to come to the fore with league superstars Aby Maraño, Dindin Manabat and Rachel Ann Daquis shouldering much of the load.
Backing them up are team leader and setter Erica Adachi and heavy scorer Rupia Inck.
Petron tied the series with a 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24 victory in Game 2.
Foton is expected to lean on its fearsome triple towers of Jaja Santiago, Katie Messing and Lindsay Stalzer who have proven their worth in the series despite a bumpy road to the finals.
