Members of Marinerang Pilipina, PSL President Dr. Ian Laurel, and members of Grand Prix champion Petron. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Petron remains a formidable squad heading into its title defense in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference next month.
The Blaze Spikers are coming off a championship run in the recently-concluded Grand Prix Conference and they’re raring to add another title to their growing collection.
Petron is adding University of Santo Tomas’ Sisi Rondina and Far Eastern University’s Chin Basas and Buding Duremdes to fill the void left by imports Stephanie Niemer and Katherine Bell and libero Pia Gaiser.
“Actually, we already have a list of players to add. These players are just ‘simple’ players,” said Delos Santos during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Amelie Hotel-Manila Tuesday.
“Sisi Rondina. Buding Duremdes and Chin Basas are already on our list. We will activate them in the All-Filipino.”
Gaiser is set to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.
Meanwhile, new team Marinerang Pilipina, which is making its PSL debut next conference, is finalizing its lineup, which already has veterans Ivy Remulla and Ers Iratay and young guns Cesca Racraquin, Seth Rodriguez, and Chiara Permentilla.
Villet Ponce-de Leon will call the shots for Marinerang Pilipina with Ronald Dulay as her deputy.
“Our lineup is not yet complete because of the ongoing UAAP,” said Montero, the former University of the Philippines star who also saw action in the PSL.
“But rest assured that we will put up a competitive team. Our coaches are doing their best to come up with the best talents who are capable of beating other PSL teams.”