Foton's Klisura fancied to win MVP plum

MANILA, Philippines – For setting a record-breaking 41 points, Sara Klisura of Foton is in perfect position to win the Most Valuable Player award in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.

The hot-spiking Serbian is favored to win the prestigious award over other quality reinforcements like Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley of Petron and Maria Jose Perez and Kennedy Bryan of F2 Logistics.

Foton coach Moro Branislav said Klisura has what it takes to win the MVP as her scoring punch helped the Tornadoes post a 7-1 win-loss record in the eliminations before prevailing over Sta. Lucia Realty in the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, the Tornadoes fell prey to Petron in the semifinals, putting an end to their bid of winning three straight Grand Prix titles.

The winners' list, however, has yet to be finalized.

The MVP will be named as soon as a new champion is crowned.

“We agreed that Sara is one of the best foreign players in the league,” said Branislav, who mentored Klisura in a club league in Serbia.

“She was one of my players when we competed in the youngest professional league in Europe. She has been playing in the professional ranks since she was 18 so she already knows how to compete at a higher a higher level.”

But the road to the MVP title will be very rocky for Klisura.

Stalzer and Hurley — two of the best tandems that ever played in this prestigious club league that is bankrolled by Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller, Island Rose, Cloudfone and UCPB Gen – have fighting chances after leading the Blaze Spikers to a straight set conquest of the Cargo Movers in Game 1 to move a win away from bagging the crown.

Stalzer, the MVP in 2015, and Hurley finished with 20 points apiece as they peppered the Cargo Movers’ defense all game long.

Perez and Bryan, who towed the Cargo Movers to the top spot in the eliminations, followed by a clean sweep of Iriga City and Cocolife in the playoffs, could also make it provided that they reverse their fortune and hammer a come-from-behind win over the Blaze Spikers.

Game Two is still being played as of posting time.