F2 Logistics and Foton collide in an early clash of titans to kick off the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Two of the early favorites, the Cargo Movers and Tornadoes take the floor at 6 p.m. main game of this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.
United Auctioneers-University of the Philippines, meanwhile, makes its much-anticipated debut when it tangles with Generika-Ayala in the first match at 4 p.m.
Prior to that, an Indonesian-inspired opening ceremony will usher in the start of this mid-season conference that also has Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.
Unfortunately for the Lady Maroons, star spiker Tots Carlos will miss the rest of the conference after sustaining a shin injury that needs at least eight weeks to heal.
UA-UP head coach Godfrey Okumu said Carlos’ absence will open things up for the Ayel Estranero and Jessma Ramos, who will play their first club league outside the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, while Isa Molde can now display her talent after getting limited minutes with Foton in the previous Grand Prix.
“We were given a special chance to play in this league,” he said.
“I have a very young team, but it’s a good team, a very strong team. We’re here to gain experience and share what we have with other teams. So we might be a very surprising team.”
But all eyes will be on the super showdown between F2 Logistics and Foton.
The Cargo Movers will parade the core of UAAP champion De La Salle University led by Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron, Michelle Cobb, Desiree Cheng and Tin Tiamzon while veterans Aby Marano, Kim Fajardo, Ara Galang and Cha Cruz will return for another tour of duty.
F2 Logistics’ assistant coach Noel Orcollo admitted that there’s pressure going into the conference, especially after making it to the Grand Prix finals for two consecutive years.
“We will just play our game and utilize whoever we have in our team,” said Orcollo, speaking on behalf of head coach Ramil de Jesus.
“Even if expectations are high, we don’t take it as pressure. We will just play our game and stick to coach Ramil’s system.”
On the other hand, the Tornadoes tapped the chief rival of the Lady Spikers in former Ateneo de Manila star Bea De Leon.
De Leon, a 5-foot-11 former national team member, will join a loaded frontline composed of Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat, CJ Rosario, Maika Ortiz and Gen Casugod, making the Tornadoes the league’s tallest squad.
“We have a very good team with our tall lineup,” said Foton coach Rommel Abella. “But we’re still working on our chemistry every single practice. We just need to take it one game at a time and respect whoever we are facing.”