THE Philippine Superliga opens the season with the Grand Prix on February 29 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan and with reigning champion Petron undergoing a major revamp of its roster, the competition has suddenly become wide open.
Seasoned Emil Lontoc replaced Shaq de los Santos as head coach of the Blaze Spikers while stalwarts Mika Reyes, Rhea Dimaculangan, Chloe Cortez, Carmela Tunay and Denden Lazaro all packed their bags for other teams.
That makes Petron a team that has yet to develop its chemistry, this allowing F2 Logistics, Cignal, Chery Tiggo and new-look Sta. Lucia the opportunity to rule the season-opening conference.
“The team is a perennial title contender. This time, we will try our best to get back to the championship,” Lontoc, the chief assistant coach of the Philippines team that won the Singapore 1993 Southeast Asian Games gold medal, told the press launch on Tuesday at the Eurotel in Makati City.
Petron will be composed of Filipino-Canadian playmaker Rebecca Rivera, Ging Balse, Roselle Baliton and Jem Gutierrez with Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Frances Molina returning for another tour of duty.
Explosive Katherine Bell will reinforce the Blaze Spikers.
“Of course, many are saying that we had a total revamp in the off-season. But I still believe in the system that we have. It all boils down to our execution,” Lontoc said.
The Blaze Spikers will kick off the season against the Generika Ayala Life Savers in the 5 p.m. match that follows the 4 p.m. opening ceremony. PLDT Home Fibr battles Sta. Lucia Realtors in the other match at 7 p.m.
The Cargo Movers, on the other hand, are the favorites to rule the conference.
With seasoned reinforcement Lindsay Stalzer back at the helm, as well as the core of Aby Maraño, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron and Kianna Dy, F2 Logistics is expected to go all out to finally regain the title from the Petron.
Chery Tiggo will also be marching with a powerful roster after landing national team member Mylene Paat, Jasmine Nabor and Janine Nabor in the off-season while retaining Shaya Adorador, Elaine Kasilag, Rachel Anne Austero and Gyselle Sy. Tatjana Bokan is the import.
Cignal will parade Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Cherry Vivas, Fiola Ceballos and Alohi Robins-Hardy, while Sta. Lucia landed Reyes, Bang Pineda, Djanel Cheng and import Shaina Joseph.
“We always say that Petron is the beat-to-beat,” said F2 Logistics Coach Noel Orcullo, whose team has yet to beat Petron in the past two editions of the import-flavored conference.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes