LIPA City—F2 Logistics booked another lopsided victory this time over Baguio City, 25-12, 25-10, 25-6, on Sunday to stay unscathed in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s Champions League at the Aquamarine Recreational Center here.
Coach Ramil de Jesus got the chance to shuffle the Cargo Smashers and experiment with various plays and give his bench opportunities to showcase their skills in the match that lasted one hour and 12 minutes.
“I just wanted to see who are the players who I can lean on in the upcoming games, so I gave them the exposure to find out who to pick when it matters,” said De Jesus, who wasn’t surprised to see the Cargo Movers limit the Lady Highlanders to only six points in the third set.
“I know the capability of this team,” he said.
De Jesus gave Ara Galang minutes as a starter and the former De La Salle star answered with two points on her serves that gave her team an 8-2 lead at the start of the second set.
“I know where Ara [Galang] came from. If you don’t know her as a player, it’s so hard for the coaches to know what to expect from her right now,” he said. “Time will come for her to show what she can offer.”
Galang said that her mindset is to improve her skills and regain her form after being sidelined for almost two years without games due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m taking it one game at a time, day-by-day. I’m really focusing on what I can contribute to the team,” said Galang, who had five points in the match. “I just stay focused every game day. I need to trust myself, I need to gain confidence. I’m thankful that the coaches are trusting me.”
Kim Kianna Dy took charge in scoring for F2 Logistics with 13 points.
The Cargo Movers established a 14-0 lead in the third set before Baguio City scored its first point on a service error by substitute setter Rem Cailing. Cailing, who delivered all of her seven points from the service zone.
Majoy Baron contributed six points for the Cargo Movers.
F2 Logistics takes on PetroGazz at 4 p.m. on Monday in the weeklong tournament backed by Rebisco, Pitmaster Foundation Inc., Top Speed, 1Pacman Partylist, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as platinum sponsors and F2 Logistics, Asics, PLDT, MVP Sports Foundation and Mikasa as gold sponsors and BCDA, Philippine Red Cross, Lipa City, Davis Paint and Emerald PVC Pipes, Fittings and Doors as silver sponsors with PNVF godfather, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Champions League, giving his full support.
Tuguegarao-Perlas Spikers, meanwhile, beat California Precision Sports, 25-21, 25-14, 25-19, to bounce back from an opening-day defeat to Petro Gazz.
Nicole Tiamzon posted 18 points she highlighted with 14 kills and two service points, while Michelle Morente had 11 points on top of eight kills and two blocks as Perlas improved to 1-1 won-lost.
California Precision Sports dropped to 0-2 win-loss record after losing to F2 Logistics on the opening day.
The Perlas Spikers lost a set to a young and promising CPS side but managed to keep their poise to snatch the win.
CPS took the second set to level, but the Perlas Spikers were able to dominate the next two behind Tiamzon and Morente.
Casiey Dongallo led CPS with 18 points while Jelai Gajero added nine points, including two service aces, 12 digs and eight receptions.
