Tight duel seen in PSL Grand Prix

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Superliga holds its Grand Prix next month with no clear favorites as the competing teams loaded up their respective rosters with marquee players for crack at the crown.

Powerhouse Petron will be back but faces a strong challenge from Foton, Philips Gold, Cignal, RC Cola-Air Force and Meralco-DLSU, which made some adjustments during the off-season to bolster their respective title bids in the women’s inter-club volleyball tournament set Oct. 10 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

After falling short in the All-Filipino Conference, Foton made a recruiting coup by signing national team mainstay Jaja Santiago to shore up its frontline while enlisting Fil-Am Kayla Williams and beach volley specialist Fiola Ceballos for added firepower.

Philips Gold also toughened up by tapping in Fil-Am Lindsay Dowd to assume the playmaking chores left by premier rookie Iris Tolenada, now part of the coaching staff of University of Santa Clara in California.

Dowd will be supported by strong hitters like Michelle Gumabao, Myla Pablo and Desiree Dadang while libero Melissa Gohing will be back to man their backline defense.

Cignal will also be a force to reckon with as it took in veteran Michelle Laborte, Rizza Mandapat, April Ross Hingpit and the core of the Shopinas Lady Clickers, who emerged as bridesmaids to Petron last conference.