Jolina Dela Cruz, F2 Logistics’ dynamic 5-foot-9 wing spiker, unleashed her career-best performance in the Premier Volleyball League on Thursday. However, her spectacular 30-point showcase, featuring 28 points, a crucial block, and an ace, proved insufficient to lift the rollercoaster F2 Logistics to victory.
Despite Dela Cruz's heroics, the Cargo Movers succumbed to Cignal in a hard-fought battle, with the final scoreline reading 23-25, 25-22, 26-24, 26-24 at the electric Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Reflecting on her scoring explosion, the 24-year-old rookie shared, "I remembered Coach Reg's words before the game, urging us to treat it like our last and give it our all. Our standing and situation were critical, and we needed to win, but unfortunately, we fell short."
With this defeat, F2 Logistics finds themselves holding an even 4-4 record, securing the solo seventh spot. The pressure is mounting, as only the top four teams will advance to the postseason after the single-round eliminations.
The Cargo Movers' journey has been a rollercoaster, starting with an Akari five-set upset. While they managed victories against lower-ranked teams like NXLED, Galeries, Farm Fresh, and Gerflor, they are yet to conquer the formidable opponents standing above them in the rankings.
Acknowledging their shortcomings, Dela Cruz remarked, "It's hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong because our coaches provide us with the necessary guidance. Perhaps, on our part, we have our share of accountability, admitting that we made mistakes."
The road ahead is challenging for F2 Logistics as they face formidable opponents in their remaining matches against Choco Mucho (5-1), Chery Tiggo (6-1), and PLDT (5-2). Despite the setbacks, Dela Cruz emphasized the team's commitment to professionalism, stating, "We'll continue to play. Regardless of our losses, we need to show up and play our best because this is a professional league, and we need to carry ourselves as professionals."
