FOTON opens its campaign for a third straight Chooks To Go Philippine Superliga Grand Prix crown against heavy contender Cignal HD Spikers today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
And, just like in the previous tournaments, the Tornadoes are expecting a tough field hoping to snap their title streak.
Foton’s Serbian Head Coach Moro Branislav has reorganized the team, which will be tested by the intact HD Spikers in the 6 p.m. match.
But, this time, the Tornadoes won’t be reinforced by Lindsay Stalzer, the American powerhouse who was instrumental in their first two title runs.
Petron, the team Foton beat in both finals, lured Stalzer to its camp, and she will also be tested when she and the Blaze Spikers open their campaign against Generika Ayala at 4 p.m.
Branislav said he respected Stalzer’s decision to more to Petron and stressed that the season would be a “really very good competition,” with his former ward playing in another uniform.
“We respect all players, thanks to Lindsay, she played very hard last year for Foton,” he said.
Despite losing Stalzer, Branislav remained optimistic that his team—led by Serbians Sara Klisura and Katarina Vukamanovic, Montenegrin Dragana Perunicnic and ace locals Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat, EJ Laure and Maika Ortiz—would still wield the same fiery form.
The HD Spikers, on the other hand, fortified their defense and acquired middle blockers Beth Carey of Australia and Alexis Matthews of the United States and Mami Miyashita of Japan. They are joined by Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
“Foton has a different composition compared to last year, but they are still a champion team,” Cignal Head Coach George Pascua said. “So my challenge to my players is to treat every game like a championship game. Each game is important, we cannot afford to relax.”
Stalzer joins fellow American Hillary Hurley and Japanese libero Yuri Fukuda at Foton, which also has Frances Molina, Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and setter Rhea Dimaculangan.
The Blaze Spikers take on a Generika-Ayala side reinforced by Katarina Pilepic of Croatia, Penina Snuka of Hawaii and Darlene Ramdin of Trinidad and Tobago.