PETRON and F2 Logistics begin their best-of-three showdown today for the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix crown with experts predicting the series to go either way and whoever is hungrier for the crown get the privilege to hoist the trophy.
Game One is set at 7 p.m. at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Cocolife and Foton, meanwhile, clash at 4:15 p.m. in the battle for third place in the tournament bankrolled by Mikasa, Grand Sport, Senoh, Mueller, Island Rose, Cloudfone and UCPB Gen.
After slicing through the eliminations with a commanding 7-1 win-loss card, the Blaze Spikers and Cargo Movers crushed their respective foes in the quarterfinals before doing the same in the semifinals to book a finals duel for the second time this year.
Petron went through the wringer before pulling off a 30-28, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21 victory over defending champion Foton while F2 Logistics creamed Cocolife, 25-17, 25-16, 25-17, in the semifinals of the league that also Gerflor and Gold’s Gym as technical sponsors and ESPN5 as broadcast partner over the weekend at Mall of Asia Arena.
This marks the fourth finals appearance for the Blaze Spikers in the season-ending conference while the Cargo Movers are looking for their first Grand Prix crown since joining the league last year.
Although they won in 2014 with American sweetheart Alaina Bergsma and Brazilian playmaker Erica Adachi at the helm, Petron Coach Shaq de los Santos stressed that they are “very hungry” to regain the crown.
“We know that for the past two years, we’ve always been beaten by Foton for the title,” said de los Santos, who was part of George Pascua’s coaching staff when the Blaze Spikers ruled the Grand Prix three years ago.
“That’s why winning the title this time means a lot to us. We are very hungry and we will do everything to win it. It’s no longer a question of roster, imports or any other factors—it’s now a question of heart and desire.”
De los Santos noted that they suffered a crushing four-set loss to the Cargo Movers in their lone encounter this conference, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 19-25.
In that match at the University of Saint La Salle Gym in Bacolod City, F2 Logistics was still a mystery as it was making its debut after missing the first two weeks because of its players’ commitment in the University Games in Dumaguete City. The team is composed of players from De La Salle.
“That loss served as eye-opener,” said de los Santos, adding that they had no answer to the power of imports Maria Jose Perez and Kennedy Bryan in their first encounter.
“F2 [Logistics] played its first match and we had no idea how strong it is,” he added. “At least it helped us realize that we’re still a work in progress and we still have to learn as the tournament progresses.”
But Petron is not the only team looking to satisfy its thirst for a crown.
F2 Logistics Head Coach Ramil de Jesus already conquered the University Athletic Association of the Philippines after winning 10 titles with De La Salle University, as well as the All-Filipino Conference after reigning supreme last year.
The Grand Prix, however, is a different story.
“We want to experience how it feels winning the Grand Prix,” de Jesus said.