Retooled Smart, Sta. Lucia battle in PSL Invitationals

MANILA, Philippines – Smart-Army and Sta. Lucia Realty will parade their revamped line-ups when they open their campaign in Pool B of the Chooks-to-Go Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Conference on Monday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Game time is at 7 p.m., with the Giga Hitters and the Lady Realtors both eyeing to open their campaign on a winning note.

Cocolife and Cherrylume-University of the East (UE) open the day's double-header when they collide in the first game at 4:15 p.m.

The PSL Invitational Conference opened last Saturday, with F2 Logistics jump-starting its campaign by defeating Foton, 25-21, 25-21, 25-14. Former De La Salle University star Kianna Dy spearheaded the Cargo Movers' attack, finishing with 10 points to spoil the highly anticipated debut of collegiate rival Bea de Leon for the Tornadoes.

• READ: Generika-Ayala, F2 Logistics shine in opener

De Leon, the former Ateneo de Manila University middle blocker, had eight points in her PSL debut for Foton.

Attention will shift to Sta. Lucia and Smart on Monday, however, with the latter looking to improve on their winless campaign from the Grand Prix.

The Giga Hitters have called on the core of the Philippine Army and University of Santo Tomas to form a more experienced, talented squad.

Army standouts Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo, Luth Malaluan, Nerissa Bautista, Genie Sabas and Joanne Bunag have been recalled to join Tigresses Caitlin Viray, Dimdim Pacres, Mildred Dizon and Tin Francisco in leading the Giga Hitters to an impressive finish.

"We're an old team that looks new," quipped Smart head coach Kungfu Reyes during last Thursday's press conference.

"The pressure is always there, and that's what we want," Reyes added. "We just have to overachieve and surpass the previous ranking of Smart. We will target the best finish possible."

However, the Giga Hitters are expected to have a tough time against the Lady Realtors, who will be bannered by another former Ateneo star in Jhoanna Maraguinot together with Far Eastern University standouts Carly Hernandez, Jeanette Villareal and Toni Rose Basas.

Still there are Sta. Lucia mainstays Pam Lastimosa, MJ Philips, Rubie de Leon, Rebecca Rivera and Michelle Laborte, who are looking to lead the Lady Realtors to the semifinals for the very first time.

"We want to meet the expectation of the management to finish with a better ranking, and reach at least the semifinals," said Sta. Lucia coach George Pascua. "I think it's achievable, because I have very talented players."

"It only depends on how they will jell as a team."

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