IS there a Foton dynasty looming on the horizon?
Could be. After the way the Foton Tornadoes dominated the field to rule the past 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix the team looks poised to dominate the competition in the following months.
Petron was supposed to put up a good challenge. But they were brushed aside by the Tornadoes who tallied back-to-back victories to sweep their championship.
After a controversial first game victory Foton didn’t take any chances to post a decisive victory over Petron Blaze in the second game. Foton thus repeated as PSL Grand Prix champions.
In game two Foton dominated Petron. They won the first two games convincingly, 25-20 and 25-20. Foton stumbled in the third set, 22-25 after Petron’s Stephanie Niemer came alive. But the Tornadoes put it all together in the fourth to prevail, 25-17.
Foton’s American import Ariel Usher tallied 19 points for the Tornadoes. Lindsay Stalzer scored 14 markers. Jaja Santiago, eventually chosen Most Valuable Player, chipped in 10.
As dominant as Foton already has been, its head coach Moro Branislav insists the team will be even better in the coming months.
Petron’s American imports, Niemer and Serena Warner, were equally prolific with 31 and 10 points, respectively.
It wasn’t quite so easy for Foton in the first game when Stalzer delivered 26 kills and three blocks for 30 points.
Foton climbed out of a two-set deficit to escape with a five-set, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-9 victory to take Game 1.
Foton leaned on Stalzer who delivered 26 kills and three blocks for 30 points. Stalzer unloaded crucial hits down the stretch in the fifth and deciding set that powered the Tornadoes from a 3-8 deficit to a 12-8 advantage in the electric fifth set.
Stalzer won her personal duel against the prolific Niemer. The Blaze reinforcement outscored her Foton rival by finishing with 32 points. Stalzer confessed her team was shaky in the first two sets but finally sorted everything out starting in the third set to win the final three sets.
It was Usher’s turn to support Stalzer in the first game. She contributed 19 points while Santiago finished with seven. Santiago didn’t see as much action after sustaining a sprained ankle midway in the second set.
As winners of the PSL Grand Prix, the Tornadoes earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2017 Asian Women’s Club Championship in Kazakhstan.
But that’s still a long way off. In the meantime, there’s the PSL conferences to dominate as the Tornadoes establish a new volleyball dynasty.
