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Imports Stalzer, Usher set to join Foton ahead of AVC tilt

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/8/3/080316_stalzer.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher will rejoin Foton ahead of the AVC Asian Women&#x27;s Club Championship. Richard Esguerra, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Foton Pilipinas is not expected to encounter any chemistry issues when it welcomes back foreign reinforcements Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher, who will arrive three weeks before they compete in the AVC Asian Women&#x27;s Club Championship.According to newly appointed team manager Jose Mari Angulo, Stalzer will be flying in from Denver, Colorado on August 12, while Usher is set to arrive from her hometown of Portland, Oregon on August 15.That gives the two imports at least three weeks to train and develop their chemistry with the rest of Foton Pilipinas for the AVC event, which will be held at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan City on September 3 to 11.Angulo, who was an assistant coach for the Tornadoes before being promoted to team manager, said both Stalzer and Usher will be in great shape as they had participated in indoor and outdoor volleyball camps in the United States during the summer.They will join Foton Pilipinas in its daily training starting August 16, or as soon as the Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference concludes.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/news/2016/07/30/foton-demolishes-petron-straight-sets-13818">Foton demolishes Petron in straight sets</a>)&quot;We are in close coordination, and both of them are very excited to play for the country in a tournament as prestigious as the AVC Asian Club,&quot; said Angulo.&quot;Both of them are in great shape, and there will be no honeymoon period,&quot; he guaranteed. &quot;We will buckle down to work as soon as possible, and get themselves familiar with the locals.&quot;Stalzer and Usher will be joining a crew led by Asian tournament veterans Aby Maraño of F2 Logistics, Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga of Army, and Jen Reyes of Petron.Foton mainstays Jaja Santiago, Angeli Araneta, Patty Orendain, Bia General, Ivy Perez, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, Kara Acevedo, EJ Laure, Cherry Ann Rondina and Carol Cerveza will also be there.The Tornadoes have been drawn into Pool A, along with Lien Viet Post Bank of Vietnam and Kwai Tsing of Hong Kong.Other prominent clubs who will compete in the tournament are: Taiwan Power of Chinese Taipei, NEC Red Rockets of Japan, April 25 of North Korea, Bohai Bank of China, Jakarta Electric PLN of Indonesia and reigning champion Bangkok Glass of Thailand.Foton Pilipinas&#x27; goal is to make it to the semifinals, Angulo said.&quot;That&#x27;s the goal. With two premier imports, four seasoned locals and a bunch of young and aggressive players, I think that goal is very doable,&quot; he said.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/"> ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Foton Pilipinas is not expected to encounter any chemistry issues when it welcomes back foreign reinforcements Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher, who will arrive three weeks before they compete in the AVC Asian Women's Club Championship.