Petron back in fierce form, smothers Foton

Games tomorrow (Muntinlupa Sports Complex)

2 p.m. – Mane ‘N Tail vs Petron (W)

4 p.m. – Generika vs RC Cola-Air Force (W)

6 p.m. – Cignal vs Cavite (M)

MANILA, Philippines - Petron charged back from a sorry loss the last time out and trounced Foton, 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-15, to firm up its hold of the lead in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix presented by Asics at the Cuneta Astrodome yesterday.

Imports Alaina Bergsma and Erica Adachi spearheaded the Blazer Spikers’ blistering charge in the fourth set as they regained their winning ways after the RC-Air Force Raiders snapped their six-game run with a four-set win last Sunday.

Petron thus tightened its grip on the lead with a 7-1 slate while Generika and RC Cola-Air Force share the second spot at 5-3 entering the crucial stretch of the double-round eliminations of the inter-club tournament organized by Sports Core with Air 21, My Phone, Via Mare, Mikasa, Mueller Sports Medicine, Healthway Medical, Generika Drugstore, LGR and Jinling Sports as technical partners.

The Raiders, however, have a big chance to snatch solo second spot with a victory over a struggling Cignal side. The Raiders and the HD Spikers are still playing at press time.

Bergsma delivered 23 kills to finish with 26 points while Adachi chipped in 13 markers on top of 52 excellent sets to underscore the Blaze Spikers’ well-organized offensive setups.

Top rookie Dindin Santiago also made her presence felt, finishing with 10 kills, three blocks and two aces for a total of 15 points.

“We needed this win to regain our confidence,” said Petron coach George Pascua.

Meanwhile, action shifts to the Muntinlupa Sports Complex for the Spike on Tour tomorrow with three matches on tap.

“This served as our turning point. If we lost, the morale and confidence of the players will drop and it will be harder for us to win in the crucial games ahead.”

True enough, the Blaze Spikers stepped on the court looking hungrier than ever.

Petron came up with sharper, crispier attacks and a rock-solid frontcourt defense that it lacked when it yielded a five-set loss to RC Cola-Air Force over the weekend. The Blaze Spikers raced to a two-set lead, but slowed down in the third set when a string of errors bugged them together with a strong performance from Russian Irina Tarasova.

“I told them that if the game drags to a fifth set, it will be difficult for us to win. That’s why they gave everything they had in the fourth set. We all want this win to somehow avenge our previous loss (to RC Cola-Air Force).”