Foton Tornadoes in the PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Foton will not participate in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference and beyond and some of its players have already returned to the franchise’s main squad, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
PVL president Ricky Palou bared to Inquirer Sports that the Foton Tornadoes will not be part of the season-ending tournament — the second All-Filipino this year — after some of their players didn’t get a contract renewal.
“Foton nagbitaw na,” said Palou in a phone call. “Sabi nila hindi na kasi I think what they wanted to do was ang dami nilang players, sobra sobra, pinasok muna nila yung Foton. Pero kasi pagexpire ng contract I think at the end of this year or by this time hindi na nirenew kaya wala na din talaga yung Foton.”
(Foton has pulled out. I think they had too many players, so what they wanted to do was have them play for Foton. But their contracts are expiring are the end of the year or by this time they weren’t renewed, so Foton is really gone.)
Inquirer Sports sought Foton team manager and Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez for answers about the departure of the team but he has yet to respond as of posting time.
Shaya Adorador, Jasmine Nabor, Jaila Atienza, and Seth Rodriguez, who played for Foton in the Invitational Conference and won two of their six matches to place 11th, rejoined Chery Tiggo during their PVL on Tour game against Cignal in Cagayan De Oro last month.
FILE–Foton Tornadoes in the PVL Invitational Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
Former Foton player BLove Barbon already signed with Petro Gazz, which will be now coached by Timmy Sto. Tomas after Oliver Almadro’s promotion as head of the volleyball operations.
The other Tornadoes have also received offers from other teams including the newest team, Nxled.
Palou also said that Gerflor lost several players from its debut conference with Alyssa Bertolano and Justine Dorog signing with Farm Fresh. But he insisted that the Defenders are still committed to the PVL as of their last meeting a month ago.
The Defenders, who were winless in five games in the Invitational Conference, have introduced a new coach Sammy Acaylar, replacing Edgar Barroga.
The PVL president said the multi-titled NCAA champion coach of University of Perpetual Help was tapped to recruit new players and fill in the void left by Bertolano and others, who already parted ways with the team.
PVL will still have 11 teams with the addition of the Nxled Chameleons, who already welcomed players from their sister team, Akari, namely Lycha Ebon, Cams Victoria, and Dani Ravena.
Palou said that there are applicants to form a PVL team but they are still in talks.
“Merong mga nagaapply pero pinagaaralan pa namin,” he said.
(There are teams applying but we’re still looking into it.)