Superliga teams enlist new faces in bid to level field

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Superliga teams made drastic personnel changes during the off-season, ensuring a level playing field when the league unveils season-opening Invitational conference on Feb. 18 at The Arena in San Juan. 

Petron has tapped the services of former Shakey’s V-League MVP Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and rookie direct hire CJ Rosario, a vital cog in Arellano U’s title romp in the NCAA last year, in lieu of Rachel Anne Daquis, who has moved over to returnee RC Cola, formerly Philippine Army, and Aby Marano, who has remained unsigned days before the start of the new season.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat is also out for Petron on account of  pregnancy.

With Daquis around, RC Cola-Army loomed as the early favorite with veterans Tina Salak, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Honey Royse Tubino, Mary Jean Balse, and Nene Bautista also in the fold.

Foton, the reigning Grand Prix champion, will be hard-pressed without the towering Jaja Santiago, who is with National U in the UAAP, but it boasts of Angeli Tabaquero from Cagayan Valley and Rhea Dimaculangan and Maika Ortiz from Air Force.

Cignal, for its part, acquired Holy Cross of Davao College’s Mary Jane Berte and Southwestern University’s Marlyn Llagoso and the trio of Djanel Cheng, Jeanette Panaga and Janine Navarro, members of St. Benilde’s NCAA champion team.

The league also welcomed F2 Logistics, which will be bannered by Cha Cruz and Paneng Mercado, and San Jose Builders, which will be represented by players mostly from former NCAA titlist Perpetual Help.

“This is going to be a very exciting tournament,” said PSL president Ramon Suzara, whose strong ties with Thailand Volleyball Federation gave the league a chance to invite a top-tier Thai team to mix it up with local squads in the semifinals.

“We’re looking forward to an action-packed conference with a lot of heart-stopping plays, defensive gems and strong finishes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marano is still shopping for a team after her contract with Petron expired and talks with RC Cola-Army and F2 Logistics bogged down.

Marano will have until Monday to find a team otherwise she will skip the conference entirely.

She played for a season with Petron, which topped the All-Filipino Conference and finished second behind Foton in the Grand Prix last year. She also saw action with the Generika squad that placed second to Petron in the Grand Prix two years ago.