Cargo Movers repel Foxies in PVL opener

IVY Lacsina played her new role to the hilt and F2 Logistics used its deep bench to scuttle newcomer but a game Farm Fresh side, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23, and set its motion its campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday.

From her previous task in the middle, Lacsina went full blast in the Open wing, firing away 12 attack points, including a set-clinching kill in the opening set, while seasoned middle blocker Aby Maraño and Kim Dy added 10 and nine points, respectively, to anchor their one-hour and 22-minute romp in Group B play.

“It wasn’t easy (switching from the middle to an Open spiker) but I kept on going. With the help of my coaches and teammates, I have learned to embrace my new posi-

4 tion,” said Lacsina in Filipino. But the win didn’t come easy, particularly in trying to close out their rivals in the third frame as the Foxies, behind Jhasmin Pascual and Zamantha Nolasco, fought back and forced the Cargo Movers to four deadlocks, the last at 23 on a Nolasco ace that had looked like a long serve.

But Maraño shattered the count with a hit after the Foxies foiled Jolina dela Cruz’s attempt before the latter, one of F2 Logistics’ three rookies, blasted in an ace to an unguarded spot in the middle of Farm Fresh’s defense.

Dela Cruz finished with seven points, the same output put in by

Majoy Baron while Marionne Alba marked her pro debut with five points while starting out as the team’s playmaker.

“We’re happy to win but we still have to learn more, we have to make better connections with each other, especially with Marionne as our setter,” said F2 coach Regine Diego, who had the luxury of shuffling and mixing her veterans with her prized rookies during the entire encounter ushering in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

Alba produced 14 of the team’s 18 excellent sets while sneaking in solid attacking points.

“I’m overwhelmed and so happy to win my first game (in the pros),” said Alba, who took over the role normally reserved for veteran and multi-titled setter Kim Fajardo. “Nakaka-boost talaga ng confidence.”

MILO finding ways to lure kids to sports

MILO Sports is walking the extra mile to make sure that its programs involving close to 20 sports will continue to reach, accommodate and benefit as many athletes, particularly the young ones.

“Our approach is that we are moving with the times,” said MILO Sports head Carlo Sampan during yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Samban cited its strong, decades-long partnership with sports like swimming, karatedo, basketball, volleyball, golf, gymnastics, running, and recently jiujitsu, jumprope and ice-skating during the forum.

“We know that raising champions is not an overnight endeavor,” he said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee grams are ongoing, and because of the new schedules of the different schools, the programs may run until August or even September.

“There are schools that started their summer breaks either earlier or later so we plan to extend our summer program to three months,” said Lim.

The sports officials thanked MILO for its unwavering support even during the pandemic, while noting that the brand synonymous to sports continues to look for ways to bring kids into sports, and live an active lifestyle.

“We’ve had gymnastics who are lawyers now or basketball players who are now doctors. It’s really about the values and MILO is honored to be part of that,” added Sampan.

He said because of the pandemic, MILO Sports has found ways to to keep its programs going.