MANILA, Philippines—Tina Salak captured the Most Valuable Player award Saturday night for leading Generika-Army to a third straight women’s title in the Philippine SuperLiga All-Filipino Conference.
It was a fitting reward for the cropped-haired, 38-year-old veteran, who three months ago had asked coach Rico de Guzman to replace her since she could no longer keep up with training due to age and health issues.
“I felt like I am too old and I can’t keep up with the hard training because I have thyroid problems,” the lean-framed, 5-foot-10 Army corporal told reporters after the Lady Troopers dumped RC Cola-Air Force for the title.
In fact, Salak didn’t play in the first two games which the Lady Troopers lost.
Also winning honors were AirAsia’s Stephanie Mercado as best spiker, teammate Aby Maraño (best middle blocker), and PLDT’s Sue Roces (best opposite spiker), and Lizlee Pantone (best libero).
In the men’s division dominated by PLDT, Alnakran Abdilla of the Power Attackers copped the MVP and the best outside spiker awards, while teammates Jessie Lopez won the best setter plum and Raffy Mosuela was named best libero.
Cignal’s Howard Mojica was adjudged second best outside spiker, Systema’s Chris Macasaet best middle blocker, Instituto Estetico Manila’s Alexis Faytaren second best middle blocker, and Cignal’s Gilbert Ablan best opposite spiker.
Another seasoned Lady Trooper bagged an individual award with Mary Jean Balse getting the second best middle blocker.
Runner-up RC Cola-Air Force bagged two awards with Joy Cases picked as second best outside spiker and Rhea Dimaculangan as best setter.
The Army franchise has won the two previous PSL conferences—Invitationals and Grand Prix—with a different corporate partner.