MICHELE GUMABAO and Denden Lazaro traversed the Philippine Superliga (PSL) during the off-season and will join expansion team United Volleyball Club (VC) for the league’s forthcoming tournament.
Gumabao played for Pocari Sweat and Lazaro donned BaliPure’s colors in the Shakey’s V-League, a move that came as a surprise in the local volleyball community.
The former De La Salle standout Gumabao and ex-Ateneo ace libero Lazaro will team up with former University of Santo Tomas (UST) star Angeli Tabaquero, as well as with Wensh Tiu and Erika Alkuino, former former players of Generika and Pocari Sweat, respectively, at the United VC camp.
United VC officials, however, have yet to bare the other members of the team but the BusinessMirror learned the team is also eyeing former Lady Eagles Mae Tajima, Amy Ahomiro and Jem Ferrer.
Foton and Petron, who clashed in the PSL Grand Prix Finals for the past two seasons, also tinkered with their rosters.
Foton, the back-to-back Grand Prix champion, retained Jaja Santiago and sister Dindin Santiago-Manabat, EJ Laure, Maika Ortiz and Ivy Perez and kept Serbian Head Coach Moro Branislav.
The Tornadoes, however, lost Cherry Rondina and Rhea Dimaculangan to Petron, as well as Bia General, Patty Orendain, Angeli Araneta and Carol Cerveza, who all went to Generika. In return, though, Foton tabbed prized libero Jen Reyes from Petron.
Petron also let go of former skipper Maica Morada and Acy Masangkay, who moved to Cignal and Generika, respectively. But the Tri-Activ Spikers signed PSL ambassador Mika Reyes, a prized middle blocker out of De La Salle and a former F2 Logistics star, and UST Tigress Carmela Tunay.
They will join Petron mainstays Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, Mina Aganon, Bang Pineda, CJ Rosario and April Hingpit, making the Shaq de los Santos-coached squad a favorite for the crown again.
The Invitational Conference—a preseason tournament of the PSL—is scheduled from March 24 to 31. It will clash with the Season 79 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball action.
Petron, Cignal, Generika and United VC have commited to play in the Invitational Conference. Foton and F2 Logistics, however, are expected to skip the tournament because of most of their players’ obligations with their schools in the UAAP.
Foton’s Jaja Santiago and EJ Laure are still active players of National University and UST, respectively, while Kim Fajardo, Kim Dy, Majoy Baron and Dawn Macandili need to favor their campaign with De La Salle over F2 Logistics.
Team captain Cha Cruz, Ara Galang, Cyd Demecillo, Aby Maraño and Janine Navarro and Djanel Cheng will be available for the Cargo Movers.
The All-Filipino Conference, meanwhile, will be played from May to July from its original June to August schedule to give way to the national team’s stints in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Seniors Women’s Championship in Manila in July and the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.
The import-flavored Grand Prix is still scheduled in the fourth quarter of the year.