Air Asia VI challenges Army for PSL crown

MANILA, Philippines - Abbie Marano rejoins her La Salle teammates as they backstop newcomer Air Asia in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference firing off May 16 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Marano was picked second overall in the PSL’s first ever Draft pool held less than a month since the Lady Archers’ UAAP heartbreak loss to Ateneo.

Sports patron Mikee Romero put his faith on the Lady Archers by tapping the squad for his Air Asia team, which will be known as the Flying Spikers, now being tipped as a serious contender for the crown, held by two-conference champion Philippine Army. 

The Lady Troopers are now backed by Generika Drugstore.

“I did not and will not lose faith in this team (Flying Spikers),” said Romero.

Erick Erejola, Air Asia’s representative to the PSL, said the PSL All-Filipino Conference will help the Lady Archers regain their form that won them three straight UAAP championships before that upset to the Lady Eagles.

“That experience will further motivate the Air Asia team to prove its worth in a club league setting,” Arejola said. “Air Asia will represent top notch volleyball action as we are tops in service in our industry.”

But the Lady Troopers, champions in both the Invitational tournament and the Grand Prix in last year’s initial offering of the PSL, remain the team to beat.

Cignal is also threatening to prove it could advance further than the two runner-up trophies it won behind Army in the initial season of the league backed by Mikasa, Asics, Jinling Sports, Mueller and Healthway Medical Services.

Petron, which nabbed Din-Din Santiago for its top pick, is also tipped to figure well in the standings along with PLDT MyDSL, RC Cola-Air Force and Cagayan Province. 

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.