Generika to bounce back

Games Today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:15 pm – Sta. Lucia vs Iriga City 7:00 pm – Generika-Ayala vs Cocolife

Generika-Ayala tries to bounce back from a rusty opening-day performance as it battles Cocolife in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Action starts at 7 pm following the encounter between Sta. Lucia Realty and rookie team Iriga City in the 4:15 pm appetizer of this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Cignal, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller, Grand Sport, Rebisco, Island Rose, Cloudfone, UCPB Gen and Asics.

Both matches will be shown live via the league’s official broadcast partner, ESPN5.

Formal opening ceremonies, however, is set this Saturday at the same venue with no less than FIVB Hall of Famer and current United States’ women’s national team head coach Karsh Kiraly serving as guest of honor.

A team hungry for redemption, Generika-Ayala marched into this season-ending conference with high hopes following the acquisition of reinforcements in Katarina Pilepic of Cro- atia, Darlene Ramdin of Trinidad and Tobago and Penina Snuka of the US.

But the Lifesavers crashed back to earth as they fell prey to the powerful Petron side bannered by prolific imports Hillary Hurley and Lindsay Stalzer, as well as Japanese libero Yuri Fukuda, in straight sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-19, last Saturday.

Pilepic, who was dubbed “Croatian Hammer” during her college days at Arizona, finished with team-high 14 points, but was obviously overwhelmed by the towering Petron blockers led by Mika Reyes and Ria Meneses, who chalked three blocks apiece.

On the same note, Ramdin was also quiet, delivering only nine markers as she has yet to regain her deadly form after leading her country in the FIVB World Championship Qualifying Tournament recently.