Petron tests mettle vs RC Cola-Air Force

Games Wednesday:

(Cuneta Astrodome)

2 p.m. – Generika vs Foton (W)

4 p.m. – RC Cola vs Petron (W)

6 p.m. – Cignal vs Maybank (M)

MANILA, Philippines – The vaunted firepower and defensive intensity of Petron will be put to a severe test when it clashes with RC Cola-Air Force in the resumption of the 2014 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix presented by Asics Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

After posting a scorching start, the Blaze Spikers gun for their fourth straight win against the veteran Raiders at 4 p.m. following the 2 p.m. encounter between winless Generika and Foton in the women's division of this prestigious inter-club tournament organized by Sports Core with Air 21, My Phone, Via Mare, Mikasa, Mueller Sports Medicine, Healthway Medical, Generika Drugstore, LGR and Jinling Sports as technical partners.

On the same note, Cignal is out to claim an early lead when it faces the debuting Maybank at 6 pm in the men's side.

Powered by the lovely duo of American hitter Alaina Bergsma and Brazilian setter Erica Adachi, the Blaze Spikers coasted to an easy straight-set victory over erstwhile leader Cignal, 25-17, 25-20, 25-23, last week, proving that they are more than ready to finally win the crown after falling short last conference.

Bergsma, the former skipper of Oregon Ducks in the US NCAA who also won the Miss Photogenic award in the Miss USA, was an epitome of beauty, skills and power as she delivered 20 kills to finish with 23 points in an all-out display of volleyball brilliance against the hapless HD Spikers.

Her partner, Adachi, was also steady in calling the plays, making sure that local spikers Dindin Santiago and Carmina Aganon will also get their touches in the offensive end to keep the defense guessing.

But it will be an entirely different story when they march into war against RC Cola-Air Force – a seasoned squad which fell a win shy of winning the title last conference.

"We'll be ready, that's for sure," said Petron coach George Pascua. "We're planning to use the (one-week) break to study their plays and come up with an offensive scheme that will foil their defense. RC Cola is a veteran team. I'm sure they will also be ready against us."

True enough, RC Cola-Air Force is no push over.

After dropping their opening game to Cignal, the Raiders were unstoppable as they posted convincing triumphs over Foton and Generika with American reinforcements Emily Brown and Bonita Wise asserting their dominance on both ends of the floor.

Against the Life Savers in Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur, Brown delivered 19 kills and two blocks for a total of 22 points while Joy Cases chipped in 17 kills, two aces and two blocks for 21 points to underscore the Raiders' well-balanced attack. Wise, on her part, manned the frontline and backline defense as RC Cola-Air Force took advantage of the absence of Michelle Gumabao and headcoach Ramil de Jesus.

"Our previous game only proves that we are slowly getting our acts together," said RC Cola-Air Force coach Rhovyl Verayo, who took the helm from Clarence Esteban few days before the start of the tournament.

"A win over Petron will be very important because it will not only improve our standing, but will also give us the momentum we need. We are planning to go all out against them."

Also expected to generate attention is the curtain-raiser between Generika and Foton.

With both teams suffering a pair of early setbacks, both the Life Savers and the Tornadoes are tipped to wage an all-out war to finally nail their first win and remain in contention in this tournament that has Solar Sports as official broadcast partner.