MANILA, Philippines—A new team is set to join the Philippine Super Liga after Marinerang Pilipina joined the cadre for the All-Filipino Conference.
Team manager Jed Montero said that even though her team may be new, the club is adamant that they will try level with the league’s contenders like Petron and F2 Logistics.
“Just like any new team, our goal is to be competitive right away,” said Montero who once played for University of the Philippines in the UAAP before transitioning to RC Cola-Air Force in the early years of the PSL.
Heading the team from the sidelines is coach Vilet Ponce-de Leon, who once steered Foton to the 2016 Grand Prix title.
“Coach Vilet is a champion coach here in the PSL, we believe that she will hit the ground running and assemble a very competitive team,” said Montero.
University of the East’s Judith Abil and Seth Rodriguez with San Beda’s Cesca Racraquin are the first commits to the team with Ponce-de Leon set to begin her recruitment at the end of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.
PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico expressed his happiness with Marinerang Pilipina’s commitment to the league with the club also fielding a sister team in the PBA D-League.
“It relay feels good to know that the PSL continues to grow,” said Juico, who is also a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and the president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.
“From only having six teams in 2013, we now have nine teams who are all committed to win and be competitive,” added Juico. “This growth shows the level of confidence team owners are putting on us.”
Montero said that Marinerang Pilipina’s inclusion in the PSL isn’t a one-time thing.
“Just like other teams, our goal is also to win a championship,” said Montero. “We will be very patient because we know that winning in a competitive league such as the PSL is not an overnight process.”