Foton riding high on morale after third straight win

Foton Tornaedos. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

At the start of the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix season, Foton found itself on the wrong end of the grid looking at other teams zoom past them.

But that has since changed as the Tornadoes capped a three-game win streak to climb up from a dismal 1-3 record to fourth seed in the standings.
Foton bludgeoned Philips Gold, 25-14, 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, Thursday night to improve to 4-3 after wins against Cignal and RC Cola started their momentum.

Tornadoes head coach Maria Ponce De Leon said this was exactly the players need after starting the season on the wrong gear.

“It’s a morale-booster for the players, they’re enjoying themselves inside the court,” Ponce De Leon said after the game at San Juan Arena. “It’s a good thing for us and I hope it continues.”

She admitted the main problem at the start of the season was trying to build the chemistry of the team with her student-athletes Jaja Santiago and Ivy Perez joining training a bit later than their teammates.

“When we started the tournament that was when we got together, and right now we’re trying to gel the team,” Ponce De Leon said. “I think that’s the missing link.”

Santiago and Perez were still playing for National University in another tournament when the team first got together.

Ponce De Leon, though, is not that worried that her team is just starting to become a cohesive unit this late in the season.

“It’s expected because it has happened before,” Ponce De Leon said. “No matter how late, it’s still working for us.”