PSL opens Saturday: Petron, Foton top picks
THE PHILIPPINE Superliga All Filipino Conference, boasting its biggest roster ever of eight teams, promises to showcase top-shelf volleyball action starting tomorrow at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
“The presence of some of the biggest companies which put up teams speaks a lot about our credibility as a league,” said PSL chair Philip Ella Juico in Thursday’s tournament press conference at Centerstage of Mall of Asia in Pasay.
Jovelyn Gonzaga of RC Cola-Army and Cha Cruz of F2 Logistics led the team captains at the affair.
Petron coach George Pascua said his defending champion squad remains “complete,” despite the departure of stars Aby Maraño, Rachel Ann Daquis and Dindin Manabat, the trio who steered the Tri Activ Spikers to the 2015 title.
Foton sets out as the tournament co-favorite with a squad that still has the nucleus of the team that won the Grand Prix last year, including the 6-foot-4 Jaja Santiago. Foton will represent the country in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Club Championship.
Maraño and Cruz join Ara Galang, Cyd Demecillo, Mika Reyes and Kim Fajardo of UAAP champion La Salle in the F2 Logistics team.
“Our core knows each other very well and that makes it very exciting,” said F2 coach Ramil de Jesus.
The other teams are Generika, Amy’s Kitchen-Perpetual, Standard Insurance-Navy, Cignal and RC Cola-Army.
