By John Bryan Ulanday
Games on Saturday
(Ynares Sports Arena)
4 p.m. — F2 Logistics vs Petron
6 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs PLDT Home Fibr
GENERIKA-AYALA kicked off its campaign in style, scoring a 25-19, 25-23, 25-17 romp of Marinerang Pilipina in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference opener at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite on Tuesday.
Veteran hitters Fiola Ceballos and Mean Mendrez led the way with 12 points apiece as the Lifesavers registered win no.1 in Pool B that also has powerhouses F2 Logistics and Petron.
Patty Orendain backstopped the two with 10 markers of her own for Generika-Ayala which still missed the services of captain Angeli Araneta due to a left knee injury she suffered in the All-Filipino Conference in August.
Jamie Lavitoria facilitated with 13 excellent sets and 15 digs while backup Bia General stepped up with 28 digs and six excellent receptions for starting libero Kath Arado.
Arado played limited minutes as she just arrived yesterday morning following her stint with the Philippine women’s volleyball team that took home a bronze medal in the inaugural ASEAN Grand Prix held in Thailand over the weekend.
“It always feels good to win the first game. It’s a good momentum-builder for us,” said Player of the Game Ceballos as the Lifesavers needed only 85 minutes to dispatch the Lady Skippers and open their campaign with a bang after a fifth-place finish last conference.
Minus star spiker Chiara Permentilla who is still recovering from an ACL injury she sustained last All-Filipino tourney, Marinerang Pilipina banked on Cesca Racraquin who tallied 14 points and 21 digs that went down the drain in this three-set defeat.
It was the the 16th straight defeat for the expansion squad Lady Skippers dating back to last conference where they failed to nab a single win in 15 outings.
