Mission accomplished para sa Petron Blaze Spikers sa PSL All-Filipino Conference

HINDI man nila nakumpleto ang sweep, ‘mission accomplished’ pa rin ang Petron Blaze Spikers matapos nitong mauwi ang korona ng 2018 Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference Huwebes ng gabi sa Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan City.
Pinayuko ng Blaze Spikers ang F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23, sa Game 3 para tapusin ang kanilang best-of-three finals series at matagumpay na maidepensa ang kanilang titulo sa prestihiyosong women’s club tournament na suportado ng Isuzu, Mikasa, Senoh, Asics, Mueller, UCPB Gen at Bizooku katuwang ang Genius Sports bilang technical sponsor at ang ESPN5, Hyper HD at Aksyon TV bilang mga broadcast partner.
Kinilala si Rhea Dimaculangan bilang Most Valuable Player habang sina Aiza Maizo-Pontillas at Bernadeth Pons ang naghatid ng opensa sa kinamadang 13 at 11 puntos para sa Blaze Spikers, na nabigong maulit ang pag-sweep ng kumperensiya matapos biguin ng Cargo Movers sa loob ng apat na set sa Game 2.
Hindi man nila naitala ang sweep, sinabi ni Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos na naisakatuparan pa rin nila ang kanilang pangunahing layunin na magwagi ng titulo.
“This is a great Christmas blessing,” sabi ni Delos Santos, na ang koponan ay nagreyna rin sa PSL Grand Prix ngayong season.
“Honestly, we really never thought of completing a sweep. We know how tough the competition is and winning all of our games will be very impossible. So instead of eyeing a sweep, what we did was to prepare hard everyday, give our best and respect our opponents,” sabi pa ni Delos Santos.
Sinabi pa ni Delos Santos na bagamat naging mukhang madali ang kanilang landas na tinahak patungo sa kampeonato kinailangan pa rin nilang magsakripisyo at magtrabaho ng todo lalo na sa finals kung saan itinulak sila ng Cargo Movers sa isang do-or-die game.
Natalo sa Game 2 ang Blaze Spikers matapos makalasap ng 25-21, 19-25, 20-25, 17-25 kabiguan sa kamay ng Cargo Movers.
Subalit imbis na bumigay at panghinaan ng loob, bumangon ang Blaze Spikers sa Game 3 para tuluyang iuwi ang korona.
“I just told them to bring back the old fire that made Petron successful in the past,” sabi ni Delos Santos. “We don’t have to be pressured. This is just volleyball. We have to play our normal game if we want to win the crown.”
Naging susi sa tagumpay ng Petron ngayong kumperensiya sina Mika Reyes, Remy Palma, Ging Balse-Pabayo, Frances Molina, Pia Gaiser, Chloe Cortez, Angel Legacion, Sisi Rondina, Mela Tunay, Ria Duremdes at Jasmine Alcayde pati na rin assistant coach Ian Fernandez.
“This is a total team effort,” ani ni Delos Santos. “This victory will not be impossible without the support of the players, coaches, staff and, of course, the SMC management. We won’t be here without them. This crown means a lot. It’s going to be a very merry Christmas for all of us.”