FELL short in last season’s edition of the Philippine SuperLiga (PSL) Grand Prix, the Petron Blaze Spikers look to redeem themselves when the 2018 edition of the tournament commences tomorrow at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Blaze Spikers, who wound up with a runner-up finish last time around, begin their campaign against the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors in the 4 p.m. game following that between the Generika-Ayala Life Savers and the Foton Tornadoes at 2 p.m.
Petron lost to eventual champions F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in their best-of-three finals series last year despite taking the opening game, something it hopes to make up for as it begins its bounce-back bid.
“Our campaign last year ended in a heartbreak so we will try our best to win it this time,” said Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, referring to the meltdown it had in the finals against F2 Logistics.
Back to lead the Blaze Spikers are stalwarts Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, Mika Reyes and Rhea Dimaculangan with imports Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley of United States and libero Yuri Fukuda of Japan backstopping them anew.
Petron though lost auxiliaries Mina Aganon to Foton and April Ross Hingpit, Bang Pineda and Marivic Meneses to Generika-Ayala, but acquired former University of Santo Tomas standout Chloe Cortez, Luth Malaluan and Pia Gaiser to boost their defense as well as backup setter Angelica Legacion.
GEORGE PASCUA-COACHED
On the part of Sta. Lucia, now coached by former Petron bench tactician George Pascua, it hopes to improve on its sixth-place finish in the 2017 PSL Grand Prix.
The Lady Realtors recruited veterans Michelle Laborte and Rubie de Leon to boost their roster, joining mainstays MJ Philips, Rebecca Rivera, Pamela Lastimosa and Jonah Sabete and imports Marisa Field and Kristen Moncks of Canada and Bohdana Anisova of Ukraine.
“We want to see Micmic (Laborte) and Rubie mentoring our young players. We have a promising young setter in Rebecca while MJ might see a lot of minutes at the middle with the presence of the imports. So I want to see Rubie and Micmic take these young players under their wings,” said Mr. Pascua, who is also the new coach of the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Generika-Ayala will also have a new coach when it takes the PSL floor anew as UAAP coach Sherwin Meneses has taken the place of Francis Vicente at the Life Savers’ helm.
He will be assisted by former Iriga City mentor Parley Tupas with Katarina Pilepic of Croatia, Kimberly Gutierrez of Mexico and Darlene Ramdin of Trinidad and Tobago as imports and Angeli Araneta, Ria Meneses, Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain leading the local crew.
Its first opponent, Foton, made a coaching change as well with Rommel Abella now the coach in place of Serbian coach Moro Branislav who is now handling the Cocolife Asset Managers.
The Tornadoes will have Brooke Kanda of the United States, Elizabeth Wendel of Canada and Katarina Vukamanovic of Serbia as imports with Gen Casugod, Maika Ortiz, Ms. Aganon and Dindin Manabat making up the core of their locals.
PSL Grand Prix matches are broadcast over ESPN5 and Aksyon. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
