Push Admin

Foton in for tough title defense in PSL Grand Prix

Article (news)

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/sports/9/29/psl-092916.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The Foton Tornadoes celebrate after winning the 2015 PSL Grand Prix. Richard Esguerra,<a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/photos"> ABS-CBN Sports</a></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Foton will have its hands full as it defends its championship in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix that opens on October 8 at the Arena in San Juan.The Tornadoes recruited Dindin Santiago-Manabat to join her younger sister Jaja, Maika Ortiz, and Angeli Araneta at the middle position. Last year&#x27;s MVP, Lindsay Stalzer, will be back as well and will conspire with Ariel Usher in another bid for the crown.Calling the shots for Foton is Serbian coach Moro Branislav, who replaced Fabio Menta of Italy.<ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>Read: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/news/2016/09/26/foton-replaces-italian-coach-fabio-menta-serbian-mentor-15894">Foton replaces Italian coach Fabio Menta with Serbian mentor</a></li></ul>But Foton will be severely challenged by a much-improved Cignal team, which reloaded during the break between conferences by adding former MVP Venus Bernal, Janine Marciano, Stephanie Mercado, Mylene Paat, Lourdes Patillano, and Filipino-American setter Shawna-Lei Santos.Cignal will also have 6-foot-5 open spiker Laura Schaudt of the United States, as well as Puerto Rican star Lynda Morales, who skippered her national team in the Rio Olympics last August.F2 Logistics, RC Cola-Army, Generika, and Petron remain tough contenders as well.The Cargo Movers still have Aby Maraño, Cha Cruz, Mika Reyes, Ara Galang, and Kim Fajardo, as well as the young core of the La Salle team that won the UAAP championship in Season 79. They also drafted Djanel Cheng and Janine Navarro, who helped College of St. Benilde win the NCAA Season 91 title.However, F2 Logistics has yet to decide on an import. The team is choosing among Sydney Kemper, Nicole Walch, McKenzie Adams and Melissa Toth.RC Cola-Army, meanwhile, will still have Tina Salak, Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Honey Royse Tubino, Nene Bautista and Jennie Delos Reyes reporting for duty. Former US juniors national team member Kierra Holst and Hailie Ripley will suit up as imports.&quot;All teams have obviously upgraded their respective rosters,&quot; said PSL president Ramon Suzara. &quot;But it&#x27;s still a very balanced field.&quot;&quot;As we saw in the previous conferences, strength on paper alone wouldn&#x27;t be enough to bring home the crown,&quot; he warned.Generika will have former Trinidad and Tobago national team member Darlene Ramdin and Ukrainian sensation Polina Liutikova to power the core of Rubie de Leon, Chloe Cortez, Ria Meneses, Gen Casugod and Shaya Adorador.Petron, for its part, features Stephanie Niemer, who this early is already being tabbed as the league&#x27;s most explosive import. She will team up with 6-foot-5 middle blocker Serena Warner, to go along with the local crew of Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, Jen Reyes and Bang Pineda.&quot;The preparation of every team is very intense,&quot; said PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico. &quot;Everybody wants to gain an advantage.&quot;&quot;We are looking forward to a lot of long rallies, five-set matches, and another successful staging of this tournament.&quot;F2 Logistics and Generika will clash in the first match of the conference at 12:30 p.m., while Foton and Petron – last year&#x27;s finalists – face off in an early rematch at 3 p.m.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Defending champion Foton will have its hands full as it defends its championship in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix that opens on October 8 at the Arena in San Juan.

Defending champion Foton will have its hands full as it defends its championship in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix that opens on October 8 at the Arena in San Juan.