PSL semifinal stage to feature Thai foe

A club team from Thailand will showcase its mettle against local teams in the 2016 Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup which unfurls Feb. 18 at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said the Thailand Volleyball Association made its commitment to send a club team, which hasn’t been identified yet.

Thailand, a regional power house which competes in the World Grand Prix, has a robust league that includes top squads like Bangkok Glass, Supreme Chonburi E-Tech, Nakhon Ratchasima and 3BB Nakhooont.

Bangkok Glass is the most familiar among Filipino volleyball fans because it has in its lineup players who saw action here as imports like Pleumjit Thinkaow, Pornpun Guedpard and Wanida Kotruang.

The conference format will have the Thai team joining the top three teams after a round-robin elimination. The four teams will then clash in the semifinals.

“Our goal is not only provide excitement, but also give PSL teams a chance to compete against the best club team in the region and probably in Asia,” said Suzara, who is also marketing official for Asian Volleyball Confederation and FIVB (international volleyball federation).

Thailand has won the last 12 gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games women’s volleyball competition, including last year’s Singapore Games where the Philippines wound up fifth.

“It will be interesting to see how our local clubs fare against a top-tier club from Thailand,” added Suzara.

The Philippines will lean on PSL champion squads Petron and Foton, which bagged the All Filipino Conference and Grand Prix, respectively, last year.