By NIKOLE JAVIER
F2 Logistics turned to its defensive game plan to deny the streaking Creamline in five thrilling sets in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Cargo Movers crawled their way back for a 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-11 win against the heavy favorites Cool Smashers to claim their third straight win.
With Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza and import Yeliz Basa at the forefront of Creamline’s offensive display, F2 Logistics had to be creative with its scoring scheme, which turned out to be a game-winning formula for the latter down the stretch.
“Medyo kinapos kami sa atake, I think lamang sila sa atake. Pero nakakuha kami ng ibang way to score. That’s good for us,” said F2 Logistics head coach Benson Bocboc.
Despite being just two attacks short of the Cool Smashers’ 62, the Cargo Movers tallied 14 blocks and 14 aces to eventually come out on top and keep their semifinal campaign very much alive.
“Minimum actually namin eight . We did poorly — two and five two games. We did eight and seven the third and fourth games. So, sabi ko if we put in 10 blocks, maybe baka over naman ‘yon sa capacity namin. Pero given na attacking team ‘yong Creamline, and Akari got 12 blocks sa kanila, Chery , sampu rin. So, hindi kami pwedeng magpatalo. Today 14? Okay, that’s good,” added Bocboc.
With the postponement of their match last week due to the weather conditions, F2 Logistics made use of the time to come prepared and shrug off the pressure of going up against the top team.
In front of more than 8,000 attendees predominantly cheering for the girls in pink, the Cargo Movers rose to the occasion.
“We had a good time to prepare for Creamline. Pero we started differently. So, of course maybe the crowd, the energy. Everyone’s so excited. So, all the player both sides, they are giving the show. Hitting, hitting, hitting. Palakasan ng palo. And then, marami error. Eventually, doon sa dulo. All the effort, the defense, pushing, blocking, everything’s going there. So, ayon kaya nakuha natin ‘yong panalo. Effort talaga. Everyone in the team. Even the players from the bench talaga helped a lot defending the of Creamline,” said Bocboc.