Superliga opens new conference with 8 teams including Army

The Philippine Superliga Grand Prix conference unfolds on Oct. 10 in Biñan, Laguna with eight participating teams. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Team Army and Team Cebu have joined six other teams in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix raising the level of competitions even more when the league unfurls on Oct. 10 in Biñan, Laguna.

This was confirmed by PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who said that the league will formally announce the corporate backers of the two squads as well as their foreign reinforcements.

“This gave the field even more depth and with the arrival of the imports in the coming weeks, we are expecting our biggest conference ever in the three years of the league,” said Suzara.

Army, which has won three conferences, will again be led by former MVP and crowd favorite Jovelyn Gonzaga, skipper Tina Salak, veterans Michelle Carolina, Jing Balse, Nene Bautista and Honey Royse Tubino, Genie Sabas, Sarah Jane Gonzales, Mary Remy Palma and liberos Tin Agno and Patricia Torres.

Team Cebu will be led by captain Jill Gustillo and libero Marleen Cortel. Also in the fold are Ma. Abigail Praca, Therese Maureen Veronas, Danika Gendrauli, Sam Dawson, Lilit Mabayyad, Janet Serafica, Marlyn Llagoso, Norie Jane Diaz, Jerra Mae Pacino and Dian Ticar.

But they can’t expect to receive a warm welcome from league mainstays like back-to-back champion Petron which will be led by Aby Marano, Rachel Daquis, Dindin Manabat and imports Erica Adachi and Rupia Inck Furtado.

Meralco-La Salle will hinge its campaign on Mika Reyes, Cha Cruz, Stephanie Mercado and imports Liis Kullerkan and Christina Alessi. RC Cola will have Linda Morales and Sarah McClinton as reinforcements aside from locals led by Judy Caballejo, Wendy Semana, Joy Cases, Maika Ortiz and Rhea Dimaculangan.

Cignal will have April Ross Hingpit, Wensh Tiu and Angelique Dionela with Amanda Anderson and Ariel Usher as imports; Philips Gold will rely on Myla Pablo, Michelle Gumabao along with imports Bojana Todorovic and Alexis Olgard; while Foton will lean on Jaja Santiago, Patty Orendain, Angeli Araneta and reinforcements Lindsay Stalzer and Katie Messing.