Four teams join Superliga

MANILA, Philippines - The two-conference champion Philippine Army women’s volleyball team sports a new look when the Philippine Superliga unwraps its second season on May 16 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Also coming in is the Air Asia team of sports patron Mikee Romero. The squad will be formed around De La Salle University players with Aby Marano as anchor.

An All-Filipino Conference will also replace the Invitational Tournament won by the TMS-Philippine Army last year. The invitational event, which featured only women players, was an experiment of the organizing Sportscore to gauge the acceptance of Filipino fans of a club competition.

“The Philippine Superliga now stands on a more solid ground after two highly successful conferences last year,” PSL president Ramon Suzara said. “We have two new teams in the women’s division and another two new teams in the men’s side, just as we planned the growth of the league. Little but sure steps”

Suzara said Generika Drugstore will fit its colors with the Lady Troopers’ intense play which gave Philippine Army the Invitational and Grand Prix crowns last year.

Romero’s Air Asia, however, should be considered a threat as the Green Archers are aching to get back on the groove of things after its long reign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines was stopped by a gritty Ateneo side.

Cignal, however, remains as the top contender after it finished as runner-up to Army in both the Invitational and Grand Prix tournaments.

Petron, with standout Din-Din Santiago leading the team, is also a threat, along with PLDT MyDSL, RC Cola and the dangerous Cagayan Province squad.

Men’s Grand Prix champion PLDT MyDSL, meanwhile, will be tested this time by new teams Cignal and Instituto Estetica Manila.

Systema is the fourth men’s team that is also tipped as a possible title contender.