Petron, Army eye share of lead in Superliga

Games Saturday:

(FilOil Flying V Center)

2 p.m. – Petron vs Generika

4 p.m. – RC Cola vs Cignal

MANILA, Philippines – Another blockbuster weekend showdown gets underway as preseason favorites Petron and RC Cola-Army march to the war zone to shoot for a share of early lead in the 2016 Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Tri-Activ Spikers raise the curtain as they battle Generika at 2 p.m. while the Lady Troopers clash with Cignal at 4 p.m. in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by KLab Cyscorpions, Asics, Grand Sports, Mikasa, Mueller and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

After an oozing debut, Petron and RC Cola-Army are tied at second spot with 1-0, half game behind the La Salle-powered F2 Logistics, which smothered Cignal in the opener and dominated Amy’s in three sets late Thursday for a 2-0 win-loss slate.

Although the Tri-Activ Spikers lost the core of Dindin Manabat, Fille Cayetano, Rachel Anne Daquis and Aby Marano, they remain explosive as they acquired the services of FEU stalwarts Bernadeth Pons and Remy Palma following the recruitment of CJ Rosario, Bang Pineda and veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas.

Petron’s off-season moves paid a handsome reward as Pons and Palma erected a rock-solid net defense while Maizo-Pontillas peppered the Tornadoes with hot smashes from the opposite en route to a game-high 16 points during its opening-day victory over Foton.

But Petron’s resolve will be put to an ultimate test as it faces a young and hungry Generika side.

Featuring rising stars Chloe Cortez, Shaya Adorador, Gen Casugod and Wensh Tiu with veteran playmaker Rubie de Leon at the helm, the Lifesavers displayed nerves of steel in dominating Standard Insurance-Navy in four sets. Though they surrendered a thrilling 11-25, 25-22, 24-26, 21-25 setback to Foton late Thursday, Lifesavers coach Francis Vicente still likes what he saw.

“I love the intensity and energy of the team,” said Vicente, who steered Philips Gold to a pair of second runner-up finishes last year.

“They are young, hungry and aggressive. We just have to stay together and continue our fighting stance. This is a good start.”

Also expected to be the toast of the large weekend crowd is the battle between RC Cola-Army and Cignal.

The Lady Troopers are coming from a three-set demolition of Amy’s while Cignal is still licking the wounds created by its four-set loss to the Cargo Movers.

RC Cola-Army coach Kungfu Reyes said they are planning to go all out against the HD Spikers to brush off the rust in his veteran-laden squad.

“We have to switch our game a notch higher,” said Reyes, who will bank on seasoned setter Tina Salak as well as Honey Royse Tubino, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Daquis anew. “I’m not satisfied with how we performed against Amy’s. I feel that we still have something to show. Cignal is such a dangerous team. We have to be careful.”

Meanwhile, the league conducted its first tryout for the team that will compete in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship on Oct. 18 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Invited to try their luck for the squad that will be composed of seven local and seven foreign players were Jeanette Panaga, Cherry Vivas, Janine Navarro and Djanel Cheng of Cignal; Gen Casugod, Rubie de Leon, Faith Arado and Ria Meneses of Generika; Pau Soriano and Janette Serfica of Standard Insurance-Navy; Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron, Kim Dy and Mika Reyes of F2 Logistics; Lourdes Clemente and Cindy Impo of Amy’s; Maika Ortiz, Jaja Santiago and Rhea Dimaculangan of Foton; Maizo Pontillas, Ces Molina and Jen Reyes of Petron; and Salak, Gonzaga, Tubino and Daquis of RC Cola-Army.