Superliga imports arrive

Adachi Erika Pivetta of Petron Blaze Spikers sets for an attack. Photo from
AVC – Asian Volleyball Confederation

Five imports, led by Petron’s power duo Erica Adachi and Rupia Inck, have arrived in the country ahead of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix which starts Oct. 10 at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Adachi and Inck helped the Blaze Spikers in the recent Asian Volleyball Confederation women’s club championships in Vietnam where the country finished in eighth place.

That gave them the advantage over their counterparts in other teams seeing action in the import-laden conference.

Cignal’s Ariel Usher and Meralco’s Liis Kullerkann and Christina Alessi also arrived to start practicing with their respective squads.

Usher is a 6-foot-1 open spiker from University of Portland. She will team up with middle blocker Amanda Anderson for the HD Spikers, who will also be bolstered by role players April Ross Hingpit, Rizza Mandapat and Michelle Laborte.

Kullerkann and Alessi will have to jibe with Meralco’s local crew led by Cha Cruz, Stephanie Mercado, Kim Fajardo and Mika Reyes.

Expected to fly within the week are Bojana Todorovic and Alexis Olgard of Philips Gold, Katie Messing and Lindsay Stalzer of Foton, Lynda Morales and Sarah McClinton of RC Cola-Air Force and Anderson of Cignal.