It’s going to be an early clash of titans when the Philippine Superliga fires off in Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Reigning champions Foton Tornadoes and F2 Logistics, the protagonists of the All-Filipino Conference finals, lock horns anew at 3:00 pm following the opening ceremony of the tournament.
Prior to that, Generika will test Petron’s mettle in the 12:30 pm opener.
After representing the country in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship last month, the Tornadoes are said to be the team to beat as they parade a very solid core and a foreign mentor in Moro Branislav, who cut his teeth calling the shots for prestigious clubs in Yugoslavia, Greece, Romania, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Belarus and North Korea.
They will be powered by last year’s Most Valuable Player Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher, and will welcome the return of prized middle blocker Dindin Manabat, who will be reunited with sister, Jaja Santiago, as well as Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, EJ Laure, Cherry Rondina and Patty Orendain.
“Our team has the talent,” said Branislav, who will also call the shots for PSL-F2 Logistics Manila.
“But making it work into one cohesive unit is a big challenge. All teams are strong. We have to work hard to turn that talent into victories.”
Branislav noted that the Cargo Movers would be a tough nut to crack as they parade a core that has been playing together for the past four to six years.
True enough, F2 Logistics have the chemistry.
Skipper Cha Cruz and Aby Marano will be back to lead the powerhouse squad of current La Salle stars Kim Fajardo, Kim Dy, Mika Reyes, Ara Galang, Majoy Baron, Cyd Demecillo and Dawn Macandili, the defense specialist who emerged as MVP when the Cargo Movers plucked the PSL All-Filipino Conference crown last August.
Aside from them, Janine Navarro and Djanel Cheng – the cornerstones of reigning NCAA champions College of Saint Benilde – were also recruited to form what is billed as the most solid, most cohesive local team in the country’s best club league today.
But there’s a chink in the Cargo Movers’ armor.
“We will be playing with only one import on Saturday,” said team manager Hollie Reyes, adding that although Sydney Kemper has already arrived, her partner Hayley Spelman has yet to board her flight to Manila after suiting up for Altay VC in Kazakhstan.
Also expected to draw another massive crowd is the opening match between Petron and dark horse Generika.
High-flying Stephanie Niemer and 6-foot-5 middle blocker Serena Warner, as well as Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, Bang Pineda, Jen Reyes and Maica Morada, will carry the cudgels for the Tri-Activ Spikers, who will be guided by a new coach in Shaq Delos Santos.
They will be up against the Lifesavers, who have Trinidad and Tobago national team member Darlene Ramdin and Ukrainian Polina Liutikova. Locals Wensh Tiu, Shaya Adorador, Ria Meneses, Chloe Cortez and veteran playmaker Rubie de Leon round out their squad.
