Petron, Generika, Cignal tune up for semis

MANILA, Philippines - Petron and Generika clash in what could be a preview of the championship while Cignal takes on also-ran Foton at the close of the double-round elims in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix presented by Asics at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna today.

Cignal and Foton duel at 2 p.m. while top seed Petron collides with Generika at 4 p.m. as the semfinalists toughen up in the women’s division of the 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.

Meanwhile, Cavite and Maybank face off at 6 p.m. for third place honors in the men’s side of this competition, which also has Solar Sports as official broadcast partner.

Bannered by Alaina Bergsma and Erica Adachi, the Blaze Spikers easily took the top seeding with an 8-1 mark at the close of the elims.

Generika finished with a 6-3 mark but will settle for the third spot due to an inferior ranking based on match points, number of victories, set quotient and points quotient.

RC Cola-Air Force (5-5) will take on the second spot while Cignal (4-5) will finish No. 4 regardless of the result of its showdown with Foton.

Petron will thus face Cignal while RC Cola-Air Force and Generika will clash in a sudden-death semis duels on Friday. The winners will dispute the crown on Sunday.

“We need a victory to further boost our morale entering the semifinal round,” said Petron coach George Pascua, whose wards suffered a shocking four-set loss to the Raiders that spoiled their bid to sweep this tournament.

“The semifinals is an entirely different ballgame. Rankings no longer matter. You have to throw everything out of the window and set your sight on winning in order to advance to the finals. It’s tough but we’ll do our best.”

Pascua and the Blaze Spikers are expected to have their hands full against a Generika side that is on a four-game rampage after a sluggish start.

Aside from Bergsma and Adachi, tasked to carry the banner for Petron are Dindin Santiago, Carmina Aganon and Frances Molina while the Life Savers will bank anew on Russian import Natalia Kurobkova as well as the core of many-time UAAP champion La Salle Lady Spikers led by Cha Cruz, Stephanie Mercado and Aby Marano.