DEFENDING champion Philippine Army-TMS takes on rookie RC Cola while four other teams in the men’s and women’s division debut today in the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix at Ynares Center in Pasig.
The Lady Troopers will again rely on old reliables like Michelle Carolino, Tina Salak and Mary Jean Balse with help from new acquisition Rachel Daquis, a crowd pleaser back in her college days, and guest players Yuki Murakoshi of Japan and Wanitachaya of Thailand
“The hunger is still there and my girls are ready for another shot at the title,” said Army coach Rico de Guzman on the eve of their 4 p.m. match with RC Cola, which will count on Ivy Remulla, Zharmaine Velez and reinforcements Zhang Ming Hua of China and Sontaya Keawbundit of Thailand.
Last conference’s runner-up Cignal will also parade a fortified lineup going against PLDT MyDSL at 2 p.m. while
Maybank collides with Gilligan’s in the lone men’s match at 6 p.m.
Cignal will lean on former La Salle aces Chie Saet, Michelle Datuin and Maureen Penetrante-Ouano as well as Chinese guest players, Li Zhanzhan and Xie Lei.
The HD Spikers will be led by American imports Savannah Noyes, a former Kansas Jayhawks stalwart, and ex-Iowa State Cyclones ace Kaylee Manns.
Noyes and Manns have had extensive tours of duty in US NCAA Division 1 as well as in the European leagues.