F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego. PVL PHOTO

F2 Logistics’ Regine Diego could also be a rookie coach within the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). However she’s been across the sport lengthy sufficient to know what her Cargo Movers—the lowest-ranked staff within the All-Filipino Convention Ultimate 4—have to do.

“Sport 1 is all the time anyone’s ball sport,” Diego after making ready her No. 4 Cargo Movers for his or her conflict with powerhouse defending champion Creamline in the beginning of the semifinals at PhilSports Enviornment in Pasig on Saturday as they play a brief sequence that makes the opening sport a vital one.

“As a staff, we are going to do our highest to [win] it after which we are going to take it from there,” Diego mentioned as F2 mixes it up with top-ranked Creamline within the 4 p.m. contest, seeking to duplicate an exhilarating five-set conquest within the elimination spherical.

And it’s fairly ironic that the highest two groups after the eliminations, Petro Gazz being No. 2, misplaced their solely classification spherical duels with the lower-ranked sides they’re paired with within the playoffs, with the Angels taking a tumble against PLDT, additionally in 5 units, final Feb. 23.

Lone blemish

Creamline Cool Smashers within the PVL All-Filipino Cup. –PVL PHOTO

Creamline’s solely loss within the eliminations was dealt by Diego and the Cargo Movers, a 23-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 16-14 decision last Feb. 18 the place F2 fired on all cylinders and beat the loaded Cool Smashers of their offensive sport.

Capturing for a second straight championship, Petro Gazz, in the meantime, battles PLDT within the 6:30 p.m. contest with coach Oliver Almadro spending the previous few days ensuring that his Angels don’t keep content material after reaching their “practical goal.”

“The arduous work simply goes on for this staff,” Almadro instructed the Inquirer in an earlier interview. “The gamers know what’s at stake and they’re one in chasing our subsequent aim, and that’s to make the Finals.

“We’ll work very arduous for it and hope that the Good Lord blesses us,” he mentioned.

Petro Gazz completed second by advantage of a superior set ratio over PLDT, which is able to come into the sport simply recent off a few days’ relaxation after dusting off crowd-darling Choco Mucho in 4 units, a victory that saved the Excessive Velocity Hitters out of Creamline’s method within the semifinals.

Brief turnaround

Imply Mendrez and the PLDT Excessive Velocity Hitters. –PVL PHOTO

And whether or not that provides the Excessive Velocity Hitters any benefit stays to be seen as they attempt to cease a squad that has discovered to play collectively so nicely in so brief a time beneath Almadro.

“Everyone knows that Petro Gazz will come out to get again at us,” PLDT coach Rald Ricafort mentioned in Filipino after observe Friday. “We’re making ready arduous for them even with a really tight schedule.

“We’re the one staff which wanted to play earlier than the semis,” he went on. “We solely had a day to organize, so we’ll see what occurs.”

“We simply have to adapt,” PLDT’s Mika Reyes mentioned. “WE maximized the day we needed to put together for them.”

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