Foton parades its retooled roster, while F2 Logistics shoots for its second win when they battle separate foes in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The new-look Tornadoes clash with Sta. Lucia at 4:15 p.m., while the Cargo Movers take on PLDT Home Fibr in the 7 p.m. nightcap of this women’s club tourney bankrolled by SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport.
Meanwhile, Generika-Ayala and Marinerang Pilipina seek to bounce back from their opening-day setback, when they collide in the 2 p.m. encounter in this midseason tourney that also has Team Rebel Sport as official outfitter and Mikasa as official ball.
Filipino-American Kalei Mau didn’t see action on opening day for the Cargo Movers as head coach Ramil de Jesus gave her a little more time to adjust and study his system.
Still, the Cargo Movers remained unstoppable, dominating the Lifesavers in straight sets, 25-12, 25-21, 25-17, last Saturday.
Mau remains a game-time decision, but De Jesus has a deep roster with Kianna Dy returning from injury to join the star-studded core of Aby Marano, Desiree Cheng, Majoy Baron, Ara Galang and Dawn Macandili.
“Having my players from La Salle and with Kianna returning is a big help,” said De Jesus, who won the Grand Prix silver despite a depleted roster. “At least now I can rotate a lot of players.”
It, however, won’t be a walk in a park for F2 Logistics as PLDT is tipped to bring its experience from a pocket tournament in Perth, where Gretchel Soltones, Aiko Urdas, Jasmine Nabor and Jerili Malabanan battled some of the best club teams in the city.
The Tornadoes, meanwhile, are not yet set to field sisters EJ and Eya Laure as both are still recuperating from their respective injuries. Eya is still nursing a left ankle injury, while her older sister, EJ, is not yet in perfect shape after sustaining a shoulder injury two years ago.
But Foton will remain a force as new recruits Laizah Bendong, Marian Buitre and Justine Dorog join mainstays Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat, Mina Aganon and Maika Ortiz at the attack zone.
Foton head coach Aaron Velez will also have the luxury of playing the Santiago sisters the whole tournament and he expects them to lead the way, bringing their fruitful experience from the V.Premier League of Japan.
“We’ll take it one step at a time this time,” said Velez. “We learned our lessons from the Grand Prix. We will polish things this time and expect a more energize and hard-fighting Foton.”