UVC faces Foton in PSL opener

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Superliga kicks off action in the import-flavored Grand Prix on Feb. 16 at Ynares Arena in Pasig with a double-header featuring teams looking to crack the elite in the eight-team field.

United Volleyball Club, a club that went under the Cocolife banner last time, faces Foton in the season-opening encounter at 4 p.m. followed by the duel between Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors and Generika Ayala Lifesavers at 6 p.m.

UVC, which lost coach Moro Branislav to the Chinese Taipei men’s national team and libero Denden Lazaro to Petron, has acquired Fil-Am setter Alohi Robins-Hardy who is joining forces with her friend from Hawaii, Kalei Mau, import Yasmeen Bedart Ghani, and new recruits Bang Pineda and Amy Ahomiro in its bid to improve its standing.

Foton will bank on former Turkish national team mainstay Selime Ilyasoglu and fellow import, American Courtney Felinski, and locals Mina Aganon, Maika Ortiz and Ivy Perez in seeking to snap a two-year drought.

Sta. Lucia will parade a new coach in former NU mentor Babes Castillo after a winless campaign in the All Filipino Conference as it battles a Generika Ayala team that hopes to build on its bronze medal finish the previous AFC.

Meanwhile, powerhouse Petron launches its title defense on Feb. 19 yet, battling Smart in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser at the Filoil Flying V Center with rival F2 Logistics debuting against Cignal in the main game later at 7 p.m. UVC and Sta. Lucia hit the court at 4:15 p.m. that day.