FOTON beats Petron in 4 sets, claims PSL Grand Prix championship pic.twitter.com/QcZCG2FSMP
— Marc Anthony Reyes (@marcreyesINQ) December 10, 2016
FOTON left no doubt about its championship worth as it unleashed its full might against Petron, 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, Saturday night to capture the 2016 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix title at Philsports Arena.
The Tornadoes, who had to climb from two sets down to win Game 1, this time came out firing from all angles to overwhelm the Tri Activ Spikers en route to their second straight Grand Prix title.
Foton allowed Petron to salvage a measure of pride by taking the third set but the Tornadoes stepped on it in the fourth, leading 11-3 as Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher — who now sport a hashtag StalSher — soon took charge.
Petron filed a protest over a video challenge decision but it was later junked after its captain Ces Molina inadvertently signed the scoresheets ruling the protest null and void.
The Tornadoes tried avoiding such situation last night as they employed the full brunt of their power by taking the first two sets. They also managed to control Petron’s explosive import Stephanie Niemer all match long.
Stalzer was at the helm of Foton’s “quadruple towers” made up of herself, Usher and sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Manabat.
Yet the 6-foot-1 Illinois native had much more help this year compared to last year’s “Cinderella Finish” where she was leading a young, inexperience squad led by an untested Santiago.
This time around, the Tornadoes effected a massive build-up acquiring Manabat, veterans Rhea Dimaculangan and Maika Ortiz and rah-rah spikers from University of Santos Tomas EJ Laure and Cherry Rondina.
As if it was not enough, Foton also tapped the 6-foot-4 Usher who previously played for Cignal.
Foton also had the luxury of having the team played together for a longer period of time having represented the Philippines during the AVC Women’s Club Championships in September.