Petron team to beat in PSL Grand Prix

MANILA, Philippines - Petron will parade a crack roster headed by Dindin Manabat, Rachel Daquis and Aby Maraño as it kicks off its title retention drive in the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix beginning Oct. 10 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The Blaze Spikers also signed up Brazilian imports Rupia Inck Furtado and Erica Adachi, making them the team to beat in the event which also features Foton, Cignal, RC Cola-Air Force, Meralco and Philips Gold.

Foton toughens up by tapping collegiate star Jaja Santiago together with imports Katie Messing and Lindsay Stalzer while Cignal will be backstopped by April Ross Hingpit, Rizza Mandapat and Michelle Laborte along with Amanda Anderson and Ariel Usher.

Meanwhile, International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) executive Stav Jacobi will grace the event’s opener, according to PSL president Ramon Suzara.

Owner of a top European club team, the Volero Zurich, and chief organizer of the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship, Jacobi is set to make an important announcement in a press briefing on Oct. 9 before serving as guest of honor in the GP opener. 

“We are glad that Mr. Jacobi accepted our invitation to witness the Filipino brand of volleyball. We are all looking forward to have him as our main guest and we’ll make sure that he’ll have a good time watching our top volleyball players in action,” said Suzara.

Still fresh from their stint in the 2015 AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Club Championship in Phu Ly, Vietnam, the Blaze Spikers are fancied to dominate the field although reversals are not being ruled out with the rest of the cast beefing up their respective rosters.