3 new teams, imports spice up PSL G Prix

MANILA, Philippines - Two new teams in the women’s division and one in the men’s side will try to prove their worth against the veteran squads in the imports-laden 2014 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix presented by Asics beginning Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Mane and Tail Lady Stallions and the Foton Tornadoes are raring to slug it out with Petron, Cignal, RC Cola and Generika in women’s play in the country’s pioneering club league sanctioned by the Asian Volleyball Confederation and the Philippine Volleyball Federation. The PSL is also a recognized league by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

The Cavite Patriots, meanwhile, will see action against the PLDT-Air Force, Cignal and Maybank in the men’s division.

The Philippine Superliga, organized by SportsCore with Mikasa, Mueller Sports Medicine, Healthway Medical, Jinling Sports and LGR as technical partners, provides an after-college platform for still active players in support of the PVF programs as mandated by the FIVB and the AVC.

Opening day tickets are now available at ticketnet (www.ticketnet.com.ph) at P100 and P200. Games will be telecast by Solar Sports, official TV partner of the Superliga, whose theme is “Ito ang Volleyball.”

While the men’s division will be all about power, the women’s division will be an interesting showcase of beauty and talent that is expected to generate  interest among Superliga fans.

Alaina Bergsma, Ms. Oregon 2012 and a former Ms. USA finalist, is being touted as a likely crowd darling in the mold of the now retired Leila Barros of Brazil. 

Bergsman, who also captained for the University of Oregon volleyball team and an All-American NCAA athlete,  will play with another Brazilian, Erica Adachi, for the Petron Blaze Spikers whose never-say-die attitude on the court has made them one of the league’s crowd favorites.

RC Cola will have two American reinforcements in Bonita Wise and Emily Brown. The Air Force Raiders are easily tipped to figure in the Top Four and will most probably make a run for the Grand Prix title.

But the Cignal HD Spikers promised not to be left behind as they also parade two American imports in Lindsat Stalzer and Sarah Ammerman. 

Two American imports will also power the first PSL ride by the Mane and Tail Lady Stallions who will bank on the returning Kaylee Manns and Kristy Jaeckel. 

An interesting mix of a Russian-- Natalia Korobkova, and a Japanese import-- Miyuu Shinohara, will add power to the Generika Life Savers’ campaign. 

The Foton Tornadoes will have two Russian imports in Irina and Elena Tarasova (no relations) in their first drive to the PSL crown.