F2 Logistics escapes PLDT

F2 Logistics flirted with disaster before pulling through in a five-set thriller over PLDT, 25-22, 25-21, 14-25, 20-25, 16-14, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena.

Newly acquired spiker Myla Pablo was impressive in her first game donning the Cargo Movers jersey but it was the club's old reliables who delivered at crunch time.

Skipper Aby Marano broke a 14-14 tie following a Mean Mendrez net touch before Kim Kianna Dy closed the grueling two-hour, 31-minute encounter with a down the line kill.

Pablo, who joined F2 Logistics last month after leading Petro Gazz to the PVL Reinforced Conference crown last year, uncorked 21 points anchored on an impressive 20-kill hitting and had nine digs and nine excellent receptions for an all-around performance.

Dy finished with 17 markers while Marano had 11 points for the Cargo Movers, who welcomed newly-appointed head coach Regine Diego with a debut win.

"It felt like a championship game but yeah it was a good game," Diego said.

Dawn Macandili was a monster on floor defense with 35 digs and 10 excellent receptions for the Cargo Movers, who saw the return of Cha Cruz-Behag after a four-year hiatus. Behag provided quality minutes and scored three markers.

Jovy Parado led the High Speed Hitters with 17 points while Del Palomata and Mika Reyes had 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

Palomata put PLDT up, 12-11, after back-to-back quick attacks in the fifth set. Ivy Lacsina tied it at 12 before Marano committed a net touch to surrender the advantage back to the High Speed Hitters.

Dy scored on the next play, Marano again was called for a net touch that put PLDT at match point. A costly error by Mendrez when her body touched the net after attempting a tip gave F2 Logistics the opening to steal the win.

Reyes fueled PLDT's fightback in the third set stringing five straight unanswered points in a 9-1 run for a 13-5 advantage.

The High Speed Hitters then broke the game open, 21-12, after a Palomata ace before closing the set to avoid a shutdown.

A fired up PLDT side went swinging in the fourth set to build a 22-13 advantage, enough to stave off the late charge of the Cargo Movers.

Pablo played clutch in the tight opening set, shattering the 18-18 deadlock with a drop before Aby Marano scores a kill block to give the Cargo Movers a two-point lead.

Following a Reyes quick kill for PLDT, the Cargo Movers answered with a 4-1 spurt capped by a Pablo crosscourt hit for a 24-20 setpoint advantage. The High Speed Hitters saved two set points before Pablo sealed the set with a cross off a broken play.

F2 Logistics again engaged PLDT in a close battle in the second frame before pulling away late in the set to take a 2-0 control of the match.