PSL: Petron looks past Game 1 loss, strives to even Grand Prix finals

MANILA, Philippines – With two sets marked on their side of the scoreboard and the whole arena reverberating with “Go, Petron!” chants, the Blaze Spikers seemed to be in perfect shape to sweep the defending champions. 

That was until Jaja Santiago looked past her injured right foot to play in the third, and import Lindsay Stalzer mended her team’s slow start to push the match to a deciding set. Foton managed to pull off a successful rally and outlasted Petron, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-9 in Game 1 of the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix Finals series. 

With the top two teams in the league battling it out in another 5-setter, it could have gone either way as Petron managed to establish an 8-3 lead halfway through the fifth set.  

Their momentum was cut short after Ces Molina’s attack was called wide. 

Coach Shaq Delos Santos questioned the call, asking for a block touch from the Tornadoes’ side. His team’s protest, however, was deemed unsuccessful by the technical committee. 

“Exactly ‘yung score dun that time, 8-6, so kung naging favor magiging 9-6 siya ang laki ng difference unlike nung 8-7,” said Delos Santos. 

(Exactly, the score that time was 8-6, so if it went in our favor we could’ve been 9-6- a huge difference unlike 8-7)

The Blaze Spikers have filed an official complaint letter after the match, and are awaiting a response from the committee. For now, Delos Santos’ squad needs to put the past behind as they look at the bigger picture heading into Game 2. 

“We have to move on since we only have a day to prepare for Game 2. We have to come up with a mindset that it’s not yet over.” 

Game 2 will take place on Saturday, December 10 at the PhilSports Multi-Purpose Arena. – Rappler.com