Foton-PH preps for Asian clubs volley tilt

FOTON-PILIPINAS has arranged a series of friendlies with tough Thai teams as highlight of its training for the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Club Championships which the country will host Sept. 3 to 11.

Foton team owner Alvin Lu said that they are working on playing against clubs like EST Cola and even defending champion Bangkok Glass in Thailand to gauge their strength.

For winning the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix, Foton gained the right to represent the country in the prestigious meet among premier volleyball clubs in the region.

“We go full blast in training starting next week,” Lu told the Inquirer. “And then after the All Filipino [in August], we fly to Thailand for the overseas training.”

The team will be backstopped by prolific PSL imports Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher. Stalzer, who led Foton to the title last year, will arrive first week of August.

Usher, the Cignal reinforcement in the Grand Prix, will fly in second week of August, according to Lu.

The PH team drew Hong Kong and Vietnam in Group A. The Filipinos will battle the HK spikers on opening day at Cuneta Astrodome.

Champion coach Vilet Ponce-De Leon will mentor the team. The pool of players is composed of Foton mainstays Jaja Santiago, Ivy Perez, Angeli Araneta, Patty Orendain, Fatima General, EJ Laure and Cherry Rondina.

Providing additional firepower are Aby Maraño from F2 Logistics, Rachel Anne Daquis from RC Cola-Army and Jennelyn Reyes of Petron. Also in the pool are Maika Ortiz, Rhea Dimaculangan, Carol Cerveza, May Macatuno, Kara Acevedo and Dana Henson.