MANILA -- F2 Logistics will kick off its campaign in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) against Petron at the University of La Salle gymnasium in Bacolod City on Saturday.
Bannered by American Kennedy Bryan and Venezuelan Maria Jose Perez, the Cargo Movers will meet the Blazer Spikers in the main game at 6 p.m.
Other matches will pit Cocolife against Cignal HD at 4 p.m. and two-time champion Foton against Generika-Ayala at 2 p.m.
According to a press statement released to the media on Friday, Congressman Greg Gasataya will do the ceremonial serve before the games start.
"Bringing the Superliga to our city means a lot to our local fans. This is our opportunity to showcase Bacolod City, not just as the sugar source of the Philippines, but we also want to show how much we support the sport. We want to inspire our youth by giving them premium volleyball entertainment," said Gasataya during the press conference attended by PSL president Ramon "Tats" Suzara.
F2 Logistics also have locals Kim Fajardo and libero Dawn Macandili, who are both members of the national team which trained for 17 days in Japan and has competed the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship and the 28th Southeast Asian Games.
“We already have a good setter and libero so we don’t feel the need for a third import,” said F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus, who also noted middle blockers Aby Marano and Majoy Baron as plus factors in the team's stint in the conference.
“With wing spikers as imports, we have the luxury of resting Ara Galang, who is still recovering from knee injury. We are very optimistic over our chances," he added.
Leading the Blaze Spikers are imports Hillary Hurley, Lindsay Stalzer and Yuri Fukuda and prized talents Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina and Rhea Dimaculangan.
Stalzer and Hurley scored 26 and 18 points, respectively as Petron defeated Cignal HD, last week.
Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos has admitted that this conference is the toughest.
"All teams have greatly improved so we must be at our best every game. We can’t afford to take other teams for granted," he said.
Petron leads the tournament with a 3-0 record followed by Foton (2-0); Iriga City (1-0); Cignal HD (1-2); Generika (1-2); Sta. Lucia Realty (0-2); and Cocolife (0-2). (PNA)
