HD Spikers fancied in PSL GPrix

MANILA, Philippines - With a souped-up lineup, Cignal looms as the team to beat when the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix fires off on Oct 8 at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

After a major overhaul, the HD Spikers are expected to dominate with the return of former MVP Venus Bernal and the recruitment of Janine Marciano, Stephanie Mercado, Mylene Paat, Lourdes Patillano and Fil-Am setter Shawna-Lei Santos into the team.

They will be powered by 6-foot-5 open spiker Laura Schaudt of the US and Lynda Morales, who skippered the Puerto Rican national women’s team in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this year.

Reigning champion Foton also beefed up its roster, tapping 6-foot-3 Dindin Manabat, who will be joining sister 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago, Maika Ortiz and Angeli Araneta at the middle position. Last year’s MVP, Lindsay Stalzer, will be back to combine with Ariel Usher in helping the Tornadoes defend the crown.

Seasoned Serbian guru Moro Branislav will call the shots after replacing Fabio Menta of Italy.

F2 Logistics, RC Cola-Army, Generika and Petron have also firmed up their rosters with the Cargo Movers to be bannered by Aby Maraño, Cha Cruz, Mika Reyes, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo and the core of UAAP champion La Salle along with draftees Djanel Cheng and Janine Navarro, who both led St. Benilde to the NCAA title.

They, however, still couldn’t decide yet on who among Sydney Kemper, Nicole Walch, McKenzie Adams and Melissa Toth will serve as their reinforcements.

RC Cola-Army, on the other hand, will be marching intact with Tina Salak, Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Honey Royse Tubino, Nene Bautista and Jennie Delos Reyes.

 Former US juniors national team member Kierra Holst and Hailie Ripley will suit up as imports.

Generika, meanwhile, called on 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.

Spotlight will also be on Petron as high-flying Stephanie Niemer, who is said to be the league’s most explosive import in the pre-season, will suit up together with 6-foot-5 middle blocker Serena Warner as well as the local crew of Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, Jen Reyes and Bang Pineda.

“The preparation of every team is very intense. Everybody wants to gain advantage,” PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said. “We are looking forward to a lot of long rallies, five-set matches and another successful staging of this tournament.”

An explosive double-header will be featured on the opening day with F2 Logistics and Generika clashing at 12:30 pm while the protagonists in last year’s finals, Foton and Petron, renew their rivalry in the main game at 3 pm.