LIPA City— F2 Logistics, playing for the first time since March last year, found a young California Precision Sports (CPS) side a tough nut to crack and carved out an exhausting 25-21, 25-14, 25-19 victory in the inaugural Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League on Saturday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center.
Cargo Movers coach Ramil de Jesus acvknowledged the vigor and potential of their young opponents in their club tournament debut.
“We were surprised kasi bihira kasi sa high school ang ganyang galaw. Mataas ang level na ipinakita nila so kailangan naming sumabay at nilagpasan namin ang galaw ng kalaban,” said De Jesus, a multi-titled collegiate and club coach.
F2 was tested by the Antipolo City-based CPS, which has an average age of 16 years old, in the first set before pressing hard on the pedal in the next two to prevail.
Kalei Mau led the Cargo Movers with 13 points and was all praises for CPS.
“Awesome. I think they have bright future. I really thank them for coming out and giving their best because it actually helped bring us out of our two-year hiatus,” Mau said. “They really put up some situations that we really have to come together as a team and be F2.”
Mau added: “I think I’m proud of our team because we didn’t know what to expect coming into the tournament. This is our first actual game-like situation. So I’m proud of my teammates and we will just keep getting better.”
Playing with a motto “nothing to lose, everything to gain,” CPS captain Kizzie Madriaga vowed to play at a high level against their experienced foes in the bubble.
“Ibubuhos po namin lahat, kasi wala namang mawawala sa amin,” Madriaga said. “Especially po professionals ang kalaban namin. It has been an honor for us to play against them, F2.”
The other national team mainstays besides Mau at F2—Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron and Kim Kianna Dy—also finished in double figures.
Maraño and Baron each had 11 points with Baron scoring four blocks, while Dy had three blocks for a 10-point outing.
Iris Tolenada, another national team stalwart and F2’s newest acquisition, tossed in 16 excellent sets and produced five digs, while national libero Dawn Macandili had seven digs and five receptions.
F2 will next face Baguio City, which opened its campaign with a 10-25, 13-25, 10-25 loss to PetroGazz earlier on Saturday, at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in the short tournament that has Rebisco, Pitmaster Foundation Inc., Top Speed, 1Pacman Partylist, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as platinum sponsors and F2 Logistics, Asics, PLDT, MVP Sports Foundation and Mikasa as gold sponsors and BCDA, Philippine Red Cross, Lipa City, Davies Paints and Emerald PVC Pipes, Fittings and Doors as silver sponsors with PNVF godfather, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Champions League, giving his full support.
Casiey Dongalo led CPS with 13 points while Jelai Gajero added eight points to go with six receptions and five digs.