By Ernesto Nodado III

PHOTO: Tiebreaker Times

Between the clash of two champions, it was the Cargo Movers who came out to dominate.

F2 Logistics continued to wreak havoc in the PVL Open Conference, sweeping its defending champions Chery Tiggo Crossovers without Jaja Santiago, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22, Friday evening.

The PSL titlists took advantage of the absence of their foes’ team-captain and weathered the late fightbacks from the Crossovers with sheer force to take their second straight win in the league.

Kim Kianna Dy, who came out sizzling hot on their first game, and Aby Maraño chipped in 11 markers apiece as their whipping attacks punished everyone who stood their way

After two years of inactivity, the star-studded F2 setter Kim Fajardo rolled back to action in the second set and ended with 11 excellent sets.
 
F2 Logistics also got their back-to-back personal win against Chery Tiggo after the PNVF Champions League finals last December, where they nabbed its first title.

Both teams began their rematch on a nip and tuck affair from the bay, 13-all, but Maraño’s off-the-block attack sparked a 7-0 run, having an uncontested ending of the first set, 25-16.

The Crossovers, trying to even the game in the second set, trimmed the Cargo Movers’ cushion of a 21-18 margin into just a one-point deficit after EJ Laure’s ferocious attack, 21-20.

But F2 Logistics held on their lead to avert the potential comeback Chery Tiggo sought to display before Maraño put them to a set point while Joy Baron’s middle hit zoomed into a possible sweep, 25-23.

It was the same story that came out in the third set as F2 Logistics still denied Chery Tiggo to take over the lead until Maraño’s drop tip put the latter out of their misery.

Mika Ortiz, on a losing effort, filled in the gaps of Santiago with 11 points after shining bright in the last set with her signature running attacks.

The Crossovers failed to get over the hump as they stand with a 0-2 record in the start of their title defense season.

F2 Logistics will face Cignal HD Spikers, who beat Chery Tiggo on day one, on Sunday, then the Crossovers will try to clinch their first win against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.


Edited by Jostle Doen Pilayre