FILE – F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego
MANILA, Philippines—F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego and Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin are elated with their new players ahead of their respective campaigns in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference starting on Tuesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Cargo Movers and Flying Titans made big moves in the midseason to bolster their title bid just like most of the clubs with the former acquiring three UAAP stars namely Jolina Dela Cruz, Mars Alba, and Jov Fernandez.
Following their best PVL finish by winning bronze in the All-Filipino Conference, Diego has nowhere to go but up as she beefed up her already stacked roster by adding the champion pair from La Salle, Finals MVP and Best Setter Alba and 1st Best Outside Hitter Dela Cruz, who was also the Season 85 MVP runner-up to her teammate Angel Canino.
Best Opposite Hitter Fernandez from Far Eastern University also fortified the wing spiker rotation of F2 Logistics, joining Kianna Dy, Myla Pablo, Cha Cruz-Behag, and Ara Galang.
Diego, the lone female tactician in the pro league, is seeking to build the chemistry of her newcomers to the mainstays as they continue to hunt the franchise’s first PVL title.
“I’m really excited to coach these girls again,” said Diego, who had an impressive professional coaching debut in the first conference. “Hopefully, they will be able to connect and gel with the other girls as soon as possible.”
Choco Mucho, on the other hand, will be parading Sisi Rondina, who is making her PVL debut after playing full-time for the Philippine women’s beach volleyball team for the past four years.
FILE – NU coach Dante Alinsunurin. UAAP PHOTO
Alinsunurin, who debuted in the PVL last conference, is pleased with the addition of the high-flying 5-foot-6 spiker to his star-studded team, bannered by Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, Bea de Leon, Deanna Wong, Des Cheng, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla.
“Sa pinapakita ngayon ni Sisi sa training namin, nakikita ko na malaki siyang tulong sa offense at floor defense namin. Malaking tulong din ang tapang at pagiging agresibo niya sa training,” said Alinsunurin, who is seeking to end the two-conference semifinal drought of the Flying Titans.
(So far in our training, Sisi has been showing that she is a big help to our offense and our floor defense. She is brave and aggressive in practice.)
F2 Logistics and Choco Mucho are slated in Pool B with Cignal, which is fielding the returning Jovelyn Gonzaga and prized rookie Vanie Gandler, as well as new teams Foton and Farm Fresh.
Only the top two teams from both groups will advance to the round-robin semifinal round, where two foreign squads will join the action.
The Cargo Movers will kick off the conference against the Farm Fresh Foxies on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., being the first game of the triple header.
Rondina will make her debut for the Flying Titans on Thursday, also facing the Foxies.