Foton nails first win at PLDT’s expense

Games today (Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, Laguna) 2 p.m. – Cignal vs Sta. Lucia 4 p.m. – F2 vs Generika-Ayala 6 p.m. – Petron vs Marinerang Pilipina

Undermanned Foton stunned PLDT, 25-15, 25-20, 25-18, to register its first win in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Minus sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Shaya Adorador stepped up to the plate to lead the Tornadoes’ charge, logging in 15 points on 13 hits and two service aces that she laced with eight digs and nine receptions.

Joy Rosario and Elaine Kasilag backstopped her with 12 and 10 markers, respectively, while Jen Reyes added 17 digs and Gyzelle Sy provided 20 sets for Foton, which snapped its two-game slide to improve at 1-2 in Pool A.

The Tornadoes suffered stinging defeats to Sta. Lucia and Cignal as the absence of Santiago sisters proved to be a big hole for them to fill. Santiago and Manabat are currently playing in the Japan V. Premier League.

“We’re still adjusting without Jaja and Dindin. We’re still finding who will be our go-to player which has been the designation of Dindin and Jaja back in the All-Filipino. We’re actually still experimenting on who will be that player to step up for us,” said Foton mentor Aaron Velez whose wards finished fourth last conference.

In the other match, F2 Logistics also tallied its first victory after making short work of Marinerang Pilipina, 25-14, 2515, 25-11.

The MVP Sports Foundation headed by chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, center, and president Al S. Panlilio, 5th from right, present a check for P500,000 to Eumir Felix Marcial, 5th from left, for his silver medal finish in the middleweight division of the AIBA World Championships in Ekaterinburg, Russia recently. Also in photo, from left, are: Art Aro (MVPSF), Elite men head coach Ronald Chavez, ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, ABAP president Ricky Vargas, ABAP coaching consultant Don Abnett, coach Roel Velasco, MVPSF executive director Ryan Gregorio and Maita David (MVPSF).