In a duel that had all the trimmings of a classic championship match, F2 Logistics snatched victory from the clutches of defeat, saving match points on a pair of successful challenges then leaning on rookie Jolina dela Cruz and Ivy Lacsina at endgame to eke out a 21-25, 25-17, 17-25, 25-21, 18-16 decision and close in on the first semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena late last night.
Virtually given up for lost after trailing 11-14 in the decider, the Cargo Movers never gave up as dela Cruz, playing like a seasoned campaigner, scored on an off-the-block hit and Shola Alvarez, doing what she does best, fired an ace before Kim Dy unleashed a cross-court hit that went wide.
But F2 Logistics cut short Choco Mucho and its horde of fans’ celebration with a successful net fault challenge to force a 14-all count then after Bea de Leon put the Flying Titans back on top on a quick attack, dela Cruz countered with her own blast that sailed long.
But the Cargo Movers won another challenge, this time off a block touch to extend the match and the Flying Titans moved at match point for the third time as Sisi Rondina, who fueled Choco Mucho’s fiery charge to a 14-11 bulge, scored on a backrow attack.
Mars Alba tied the game at 16 on an attack and dela Cruz fired an ace against Rondina before Lacsina produced the clincher after a helter-skelter exchange of hits and saves as the Cargo Movers found themselves celebrating instead after a mind-draining, grueling battle of everything, including stamina, before a highly appreciative, roaring crowd of over 7,000.
F2 Logistics thus stretched its win run to three, moving a win away from formally clinching the first semis seat while stalling Choco Mucho’s own charge at 2-1, in a tie with Petro Gazz and Cignal in a tight Group B race.
Choco Mucho lost two key players in the clutch as Des Cheng quit early in the fourth due to heat exhaustion and Chery Nunag cramped out in the fifth as the Cargo Movers seized a 7-4 lead in the decider, only to blow it in the face of the Flying Titans’ big comeback behind Kat Tolentino, Rondina, de Leon and Maddie Madayag .
But it was the high-flying, power-hitting Rondina who appeared to have taken the spotlight as she racked up three straight hits to steer Choco Mucho to a 13-10 lead and de Leon moved the team at match point on a quick attack to negate Dy’s hit in the previous play.
The Cargo Movers, however, had the last laugh, making full use of the challenge breaks to regain momentum and produce one of the most stirring come-from-behind triumphs in league history.
Dy sizzled with 24 points after scoring nine points against Farm Fresh and exploding for 23 hits against Cignal while Aby Maraño finished with 14 hits and Majoy Baron and dela Cruz matched 11-point outputs.
Rondina came away with a fiery 28-point showing after scoring 14 and 19 points against Farm Fresh and Foton, respectively, while Cheng and Nunag made 13 and 12 points, respectively, in abbreviated stints and Caitlyn Viray added 10 hits for the Flying Titans.
-1425.JPG)
