By Abby Toralba
TAKING no chances, F2 Logistics whipped Foton yesterday 25-18, 25-18, 25-14 to clinch a semis seat in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Cargo Movers took care of business from the opening serve and dominated action the rest of the way, never giving the Tornadoes any chances to drag them into a lengthy, unpredictable finish.
F2 Logistics closed out the eliminations with a 4-1 card to clinch the first semis berth in Pool B while joining Pool A topnotcher Creamline in the next round of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and to be spiced up by the presence of foreign guest squads from Japan and Vietnam.
The win slammed the door shut on the Petro Gazz Angels, who were hoping for a Foton reversal for a stab at joint second at 3-2.
Ivy Lacsina starred for the Cargo Movers with 16 points while Majoy Baron and skipper Aby Marano added 12 and nine markers each.
“We’re grateful that we won but we can’t relax and be overconfident because we still face hard battles. But this was a good preparation for the semis,” said F1 coach Regine Diego.
Akari Chargers wrapped up their preliminary campaign with a win, outlasting newcomer Gerflor Defenders in five sets 25-20, 22-25, 27-25, 25-27, 15-12.
Faith Nisperos led the Chargers with 18 points, 17 off attacks and one service win while Dindin Santiago-Manabat fired 17 markers.
The Chargers, who finished the preliminaries with 1-3 record, are bound for the 9th-10th place classification round.
“It’s never easy when you get three losses. We have a lot to improve,” said Akari Jorge Souza de Brito.
Choco Mucho and Cignal were disputing the second semis slot at press time, along with PLDT and Chery Tiggo in Pool A play.
“This is our ticket to the semis, so we need (to score) a sweep,” said Baron.
Foton, which drew nine points from Jasmine Nabor and a combined 13-hit output from Set Rodriguez and Shaya Adorador and scored nine points off F2’s errors, wound up with a 1-4 slate.
