All eyes will be on the Foton Tornadoes as they parade their powerful new roster in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference that unwraps this Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Foton team owner Rommel Sytin the presence of the 5-foot-11 de Leon ultimately bolstered their front line, which already features 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago and 6-foot-1 Dindin Manabat, as well as national pool members Maika Ortiz, CJ Rosario, and Gen Casugod.
Aside from de Leon, the Tornadoes also signed UE Lady Warriors’ Shaya Adorador to provide support in the scoring department.
Sytin said their main objective is to conquer their first Invitational Conference title after ruling the Grand Prix in 2015 and 2016.
“As the league becomes competitive, we’ll see how our ‘Triple Tower’ of Bea, Dindin and Jaja can blend together to give us our first ever Invitationals championship,” said Sytin, an avid sportsman and president of Foton Motor Philippines, Inc.
“They’ve all played together and chemistry will not be a problem. Although this is their first time to play together after college, their partnership will surely bring a lot of excitement to PSL fans,” he added.
But winning the crown in this tourney will be easier said than done.
The Petron Blaze Spikers will march with an intact roster composed of Mika Reyes, Rhea Dimaculangan, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Frances Molina; while the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers will welcome the return of La Salle stalwarts Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili and Desiree Cheng to join the solid core of Kim Fajardo, Aby Marano and Majoy Baron.
Another emerging powerhouse are the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, which will parade another former Ateneo star in Jhoanna Maraguinot together with UAAP standouts Jeanette Villareal, Toni Rose Basas, Carly Hernandez and Roselle Baliton.
But Sytin said his Tornadoes are ready.
“I think we have a good chance,” he said.
“Petron and F2 Logistics continue to be the teams to beat while Sta. Lucia is also tough with its new acquisitions. But with our recruitment of Bea, we are expecting to be competitive and a new spectrum of fan base that will benefit Foton and the PSL,” Sytin added.
The Tornadoes will open their campaign against the Cargo Movers on June 23, 6pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
