Powerhouse Petron and F2 Logistics seek to keep their immaculate records intact when they tackle separate foes in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Blaze Spikers take on surging United VC at 4:15 p.m., while the Cargo Movers battle hungry Generika-Ayala in the nightcap at 7 p.m. of this prestigious women’s club tourney that has Asics, Mueller, Mikasa, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Cocolife, Hotel Sogo and Data Project as technical sponsors.
Also tipped to go all out are struggling Foton and Sta. Lucia, which will collide in the 2 p.m. opening salvo of this league that has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners.
With Lindsay Stalzer on board, the Cargo Movers dominated Foton, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24, last week to race to their fourth consecutive win and forge a tie with the Blaze Spikers on top of the team standings.
But head coach Ramil de Jesus knows that facing a hungry team like the Lifesavers will never be easy.
“We still have to polish our game,” said De Jesus, who was elated by the experience and leadership displayed by three-time Grand Prix champion Stalzer. “We still have to step up our game to be able to match the intensity of the imports of the other team. Also, I need our locals to step up and double their effort, especially when the game is on the line.”
After a tough five-set loss to United VC, 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 11-15, at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center over the weekend, the Lifesavers are determined to snap the string of misfortune that hobbles them.
New import Kanjana Kuthaisong of Thailand is tipped to blend perfectly with Kseniya Kocyigit of Azerbaijan as well as the local crew of Patty Orendain, Fiola Ceballos and Marivic Meneses not that she’s in the country for more than a week now.
“Kanjana is determined to lead us to our first win,” said Lifesavers’ coach Sherwin Meneses.
Petron, meanwhile, is also looking to extend its winning run with powerful American reinforcements Stephanie Niemer and Kath Bell at the firing end.
In their previous game, Petron crushed Sta. Lucia, 25-8, 25-8, 25-18, with Niemer and Bell wreaking havoc at the attack zone.
“Yes we already won four straight, but we won’t be contented with where we are right now,” said Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, looking for an impressive win to gain momentum heading into their big match against the Cargo Movers on Thursday. “It’s going to be another tough battle. We have to do our best to maintain our momentum.”