Petron opens quest for PSL redemption vs Sta Lucia
February 16, 2018 | 2:13pm
Petron Blaze Spikers.
Jun Mendoza
Games Saturday:
(Ynares Sports Center)
2 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Foton
4 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Petron
MANILA, Philippines — Revenge will be on Petron’s mind when it kicks off its campaign in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.
After settling for a bridesmaid finish for the past three years, the Blaze Spikers are tipped to go all out when it faces Sta. Lucia Realty in the second game at 4 p.m.
Prior to that, Foton and Generika-Ayala will also gun for their first victory when they clash in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser.
Petron’s fate in the Grand Prix is heart crushing.
After winning the crown in 2014 with Brazilian Erica Adachi and American Alaina Bergsma as import, the Blaze Spikers made it to the finals for three consecutive years.
But luck refused to bounce their way as they lost to Foton in 2015 and 2016 and to F2 Logistics last year, a setback that broke their hearts after enjoying a wide margin in Game Two, only to crumble in the latter part of their best-of-three title series.
Petron coach George Pascua admitted that the setback serves as their motivation in pushing harder and claim the title that has been eluding them for the past three years.
“We will do our best to step up this year,” said Delos Santos, who brought back imports Yuri Fukuda, Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley in their quest for another Grand Prix title.
“Our goal is to finally win the title this year. We haven’t won the Grand Prix crown since 2014 and I can say that we’re all hungry and ready to win.”
But emerging victorious in the first game of the season will be a tough journey.
The Blaze Spikers will be up against the Lady Realtors, who will be bannered by head coach George Pascua, the architect of Petron’s clean sweep of the All-Filipino Conference in 2015.
Pascua, who steered Cignal to the Invitational Conference title before joining Sta. Lucia, will be parading a mixture of seasoned campaigners and young guns together with proven imports Marisa Field and Kristen Moncks of Canada and Bohdana Anisova of Ukraine.
Veterans Rubie de Leon and Michelle Laborte were tapped to serve as mentors to rising stars Rebecca Rivera, MJ Philips, Pamela Lastimosa and Jonah Sabete.
“We are a young team searching for identity. So having these two veterans on the team will surely boost the morale of the young players inside and outside the playing court,” said Pascua, who is coming in as Sta. Lucia’s fourth mentor after Sammy Acaylar, Michael Carino and Jerry Yee.
BrandSpace Articles
<
>
Philstar
- Latest
- Trending
Trending
Latest
Trending
By Joaquin Henson | 11 hours ago
11 hours ago
By Bill Velasco | 11 hours ago
By Joaquin M. Henson | 1 day ago
Exclusive
Recommended
11 hours ago
11 hours ago
11 hours ago
11 hours ago
