Cargo Movers, Blaze Spikers seek semis

MANILA, Philippines — Powerhouse F2 Logistics and Petron set out as the favorites but remain wary of their respective bids against two fired-up rivals in the quarterfinal round of the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Gen. Trias Sports Center in Gen. Trias, Cavite today.

The top-seeded Cargo Movers take on the high-scoring Gyselle Silva and Smart at 4 p.m. while the No. 2 Blaze Spikers face the Generika-Ayala side in the 6 p.m. main game of another explosive twinbill.

F2 and Petron need only to win once to advance to the semis but Smart and Generika are expected to raise the level of their respective games in a bid to stall the march of their fancied opponents.

Also emerging with twice-to-beat edges are third seed Cocolife, which will play against Cignal, and No. 4 Foton, which will slug it out with Sta. Lucia Realty.

But focus will be on Petron, which is out to book a return flight to the finals after being denied of the title the past three years.

Bannered by Americans Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley, the Blaze Spikers opened their bid with eight consecutive victories but fell in ambush to the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, who pulled off a shock 25-18, 25-21, 25-17 victory last week.