Petron targets fifth straight win vs Cignal

Games today (Caloocan Sports Complex)

12 noon – FEU vs UST (Collegiate Grand Slam)

2 p.m. – Smart vs Generika-Ayala (All Filipino Conference)

4 p.m. – Cignal vs Petron (All Filipino Conference)

6 p.m. – Cocolife vs Sta. Lucia (All Filipino Conference)

MANILA, Philippines — Solo leader Petron guns for its fifth consecutive win today against streaking Cignal as the Philippine Superliga All Filipino Conference swings by Caloocan Sports Complex for its heavy four-game Saturday slate.

Alone at the top after co-leader and erstwhile unbeaten Foton conceded a straight-set loss to F2 Logistics Thursday night, the Blaze Spikers seek to put more distance between themselves and the chase pack in the 4 p.m. setto with the HD Spikers (3-2), who are riding on a two-game roll.

Generika-Ayala (2-3) looks to sustain the momentum from its upset of F2 and sweep of Sta. Lucia when it faces Smart (2-2) at 2 p.m. while Cocolife (0-4) and the Lady Realtors (0-5) eye their first victory in their 6 p.m. encounter. 

Far Eastern (1-0) and Santo Tomas (1-0) clash at 12 noon in the lone matchup for the Collegiate Grand Slam with the victor getting a share of the lead with idle University of the Philippines (2-0).

The two squads come off straight-set romps in their debut outings in the inaugural tourney held every Saturday with the Lady Tams nipping La Salle Dasmariñas, 25-21, 25-16, 25-11, and the Tigresses clobbering Colegio San Agustin Biñan, 25-12, 25-13, 25-10.

Holder Petron enters today’s hostilities fresh from a week’s break, its last assignment being against chief rival Cargo Movers, which it defeated, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20.

“Alam naming importante ang game na yun para makita kung nasaan na kami as a team. Naging maganda naman ang execution especially noong last three sets,” said Petron coach Shaq delos Santos.

HD Spikers coach Edgar Barroga said the challenge is to continue their good showing even against a powerhouse.

“Gusto kong makita yang ganyan kapag mga team to beat na ang kalaban namin,” said Barroga after his wards’ back-to-back wins over Generika and Sta. Lucia.

Meanwhile, the Asset Managers and the Lady Realtors intend to make the most of the opportunity to barge into the win column.

“We are such a young team and we are very patient with our development. But winning a game or two will be very good as far as their morale and confidence are concerned,” said Cocolife coach Moro Branislav.

“We will try our best to win again on Saturday. Our morale remains high. We know that we are fighting without our top scorer (MJ Philips) so we will do everything to win,” Sta. Lucia coach George Pascua said.