F2 holds off PLDT in 5 sets

MANILA, Philippines — Regine Diego wasn’t brought in by F2 Logistics as its head coach just to make her presence felt in the Premier Volleyball League.

She’s there to help the championship-hungry franchise win.

The pro-league’s first lady mentor steered the Cargo Movers to a pulsating 25-22, 25-21, 14-25, 20-25, 16-14 victory over the PLDT High Speed Hitters yesterday, opening their ambitious title campaign with a bang in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The former national youth team coach was on point in the fifth set as she made some key insertions en route to the marathon win.

“It feels like a championship,” said Diego on her breakthrough moment.

Diego, who coached high school players and turned them into Palarong Pambansa champions, went with her guts in trusting her former La Salle teammates, skipper Aby Maraño and returnee Cha Behag, to play in most crucial stretches.

“Pinaka-matagal ko nakasama si Cha at Aby. I trust they know what to do and I’m happy I have so many leaders in the team,” she said.

Myla Pablo, known on social media as “Typhoon Pablo,” literally took her new team by storm and unleashed a match-high 21 points including 20 kills.

“Super happy ako sa F2,” said Pablo, who helped Petro Gazz nail last year’s Reinforced Conference title before making the jump.

While Pablo took care of things early, Kianna Dy went on attack mode late and delivered crucial hits, including a crisp kill down the line that finished off PLDT, now coached by Rald Ricafort.

PLDT came a point shy from completing what could have been a monumental comeback after dropping the first two sets.