Foton firms up for semis, repels Cignal

MANILA, Philippines – Foton primed up for the semifinals, trouncing Cignal, 25-19, 25-14, 25-16, in the Asics Philippine Superliga Grand Prix presented by PLDT Home Ultera before a huge crowd at the Gen. Trias Sports Center in Gen. Trias, Cavite last night.

Lindsay Stalzer came away with 17 hits while the rest made significant contributions for the Tornadoes, who are toughening up for the semifinals of the inter-club tourney bankrolled by Mikasa, Mueller, Senoh and Grand Sport with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

It was the Tornadoes’ eighth victory in nine games, moving just a win shy of notching the top seeding in the semis that start on Dec. 3 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Albay.

While Foton and Petron have already gained the outright semis berths, F2 Logistics, Cignal, Generika and RC Cola-Army have to slug it out in the knockout playoffs this Saturday.

“This is going to be tough from here,” said Foton coach Moro Branislav, whose wards will face the Tri-Activ Spikers for the right to gain the top spot in the semis. “We used this game as preparation for the semifinals. It’s a knockout format. So we really have to be prepared and more careful.”

Stalzer knocked down 15 kills to finish with 17 points while Maika Ortiz had 11 markers for the Tornadoes, who banked on the tall lineup of Rhea Dimaculangan, Dindin Manabat, Jaja Santiago, Maika Ortiz, Ariel Usher and Stalzer to dominate their rivals from start to finish.

Meanwhile, F2 Logistics ended its campaign in the prelims with a 25-13, 25-21, 25-11 victory over RC Cola-Army in the second game.

Imports Hayley Spelman and Sydney Kemper carried the offensive cudgels to tow the Cargo Movers to their seventh win in 10 outings. 

With the win, the Cargo Movers formally claimed the third spot, booking a one-game duel with either Cignal or Generika in the playoffs.