Unlike the usual two-import scheme, this year’s Grand Prix iteration will only feature one foreign player reinforcing each of the eight participating squads when the tournament kicks off on February 22.
Notably, PSL allowed three imports per team in its 2017 and 2018 editions.
But while the numbers were trimmed, the quality of foreign spikers set to display their incredible skill sets in the months to come seemed the same — from national team campaigners to grizzled veterans in the foreign arena to up-and-coming big names.
Thus, with no further ado, these are the eight powerful ladies billed for a colossal clash this coming Grand Prix.
Elizabeth Vicet Campos, Generika Ayala
Starting off the list is the youngest of the crop, Elizabeth Vicet Campos from Cuba. While players her age are still honing their skills, Campos is a cut above her peers.
The 20-year old outside hitter was part of the Cuban squad that competed in the 17-nation 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship. This, before being promoted to the senior women’s team.
Khat Bell, Petron
Set for her third stint in the country, Kath Bell looks to steer Petron anew to the championship, this time swinging for its third consecutive win.
The reigning 1st Best Outside Spiker is a scoring beast laced with good floor defense and high hitting conversion rate. Bell’s 42-point eruption in the Finals of the 2018 Finals remains as the second-best output in Philippine volleyball history.
Shainah Joseph, Sta. Lucia
Sta. Lucia completed its rebuilding by acquiring Shainah Joseph from Canada. Joseph has played in the prestigious 2018 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship bannering the Canadian women’s volleyball national team.
The 24-year old outside hitter suited up for the University of Florida during college. There, she was named NCAA Division 1 Gainesville Regional MVP and All-America Second Team in 2017.
Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani, Cignal
It’s going be a Hawaiian connection for Cignal as Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani is set to reunite with setter Alohi Robins-Hardy. Bedart-Ghani and Robins-Hardy previously suited up for the now-dissolved United Volleyball Club.
It will be Bedart-Ghani’s second tour of duty here. In her first season, the 24-year old open spiker powered UVC to a fifth-place finish.
Hana Cutura, Marinerang Pilipina
Not to be outdone, Marinerang Pilipina will be parading a national team spiker of their own with Croatia’s Hana Cutura.
Playing in Division 1 of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association for the University of California Berkeley, Cutura has vast international experience after taking her talents to Germany, Japan, Azerbaijan, Poland, and France. She also saw action in the 2017 Women’s European Volleyball Championship and 2017 FIVB Grand Prix.
Tatjana Bokan, Chery Tiggo
Tatjana Bokan might just be Chery Tiggo’s — formerly Foton Tornadoes — best reinforcement since Serbian hammer Sara Klisura. Bokan, 31, is a gem of a recruit.
The Montenegrin spiker has competed in the highly-vaunted Japanese V.Premiere League in 2015-16 season and the Chinese Volleyball League’s 2019-20 season. This, aside from playing in Serbia, Italy, France, Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Hungary.
Maeva Orle, PLDT Home Fibr
PLDT Home Fibr will be led by French women’s volleyball national team ace Maeve Orle. Orle is a 28-year old opposite.
Orle’s professional career includes stints in her home country from 2008 to 2015. She then spread her wings in Romania and Finland before landing in the Power Hitters’ lair.
Lindsay Stalzer, F2 Logistics
At this point, resident import Lindsay Stalzer needs no introduction. Now on her seventh straight tenure in the country, the three-time champion is aiming for her fourth gold as she returns to F2 Logistics.
The two-time Most Valuable Player is a reliable defense- and offense-wise. More than her scoring capacities, though, it was her never-say-die attitude that keep her on top of the market despite a much younger pool of competition.
(Credits to the owner of the photos)
Locked and Loaded: Philippine SuperLiga (PSL) Grand Prix Imports
Unlike the usual two-import scheme, this year’s Grand Prix iteration will only feature one foreign player reinforcing each of the eight participating squads when the tournament kicks off on February 22.
Notably, PSL allowed three imports per team in its 2017 and 2018 editions.
But while the numbers were trimmed, the quality of foreign spikers set to display their incredible skill sets in the months to come seemed the same — from national team campaigners to grizzled veterans in the foreign arena to up-and-coming big names.
Thus, with no further ado, these are the eight powerful ladies billed for a colossal clash this coming Grand Prix.
Elizabeth Vicet Campos, Generika Ayala
Starting off the list is the youngest of the crop, Elizabeth Vicet Campos from Cuba. While players her age are still honing their skills, Campos is a cut above her peers.
The 20-year old outside hitter was part of the Cuban squad that competed in the 17-nation 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship. This, before being promoted to the senior women’s team.
Khat Bell, Petron
Set for her third stint in the country, Kath Bell looks to steer Petron anew to the championship, this time swinging for its third consecutive win.
The reigning 1st Best Outside Spiker is a scoring beast laced with good floor defense and high hitting conversion rate. Bell’s 42-point eruption in the Finals of the 2018 Finals remains as the second-best output in Philippine volleyball history.
Shainah Joseph, Sta. Lucia
Sta. Lucia completed its rebuilding by acquiring Shainah Joseph from Canada. Joseph has played in the prestigious 2018 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship bannering the Canadian women’s volleyball national team.
The 24-year old outside hitter suited up for the University of Florida during college. There, she was named NCAA Division 1 Gainesville Regional MVP and All-America Second Team in 2017.
Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani, Cignal
It’s going be a Hawaiian connection for Cignal as Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani is set to reunite with setter Alohi Robins-Hardy. Bedart-Ghani and Robins-Hardy previously suited up for the now-dissolved United Volleyball Club.
It will be Bedart-Ghani’s second tour of duty here. In her first season, the 24-year old open spiker powered UVC to a fifth-place finish.
Hana Cutura, Marinerang Pilipina
Not to be outdone, Marinerang Pilipina will be parading a national team spiker of their own with Croatia’s Hana Cutura.
Playing in Division 1 of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association for the University of California Berkeley, Cutura has vast international experience after taking her talents to Germany, Japan, Azerbaijan, Poland, and France. She also saw action in the 2017 Women’s European Volleyball Championship and 2017 FIVB Grand Prix.
Tatjana Bokan, Chery Tiggo
Tatjana Bokan might just be Chery Tiggo’s — formerly Foton Tornadoes — best reinforcement since Serbian hammer Sara Klisura. Bokan, 31, is a gem of a recruit.
The Montenegrin spiker has competed in the highly-vaunted Japanese V.Premiere League in 2015-16 season and the Chinese Volleyball League’s 2019-20 season. This, aside from playing in Serbia, Italy, France, Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Hungary.
Maeva Orle, PLDT Home Fibr
PLDT Home Fibr will be led by French women’s volleyball national team ace Maeve Orle. Orle is a 28-year old opposite.
Orle’s professional career includes stints in her home country from 2008 to 2015. She then spread her wings in Romania and Finland before landing in the Power Hitters’ lair.
Lindsay Stalzer, F2 Logistics
At this point, resident import Lindsay Stalzer needs no introduction. Now on her seventh straight tenure in the country, the three-time champion is aiming for her fourth gold as she returns to F2 Logistics.
The two-time Most Valuable Player is a reliable defense- and offense-wise. More than her scoring capacities, though, it was her never-say-die attitude that keep her on top of the market despite a much younger pool of competition.
(Credits to the owner of the photos)
 Grand Prix Imports&p[summary]= For the first time in its seven-year league history, the Philippine SuperLiga (PSL) will implement a one import per team rule in the f...&p[url]=https://ephilnews.blogspot.com/2020/02/ph-superliga-psl-grand-prix-imports.html&p[images][0]=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd0LIgatmzebJBxlj0k190pV8zEmbspvmyqtoRu8oqd4_KCR-Zjzq-_zr97zOOAVAoV3WMDHZNo9qVSSRtdjmBMYEvxn1XHoR86Vqfijej7XUybqCKnX8CjCEWSNtKg7kMGq6shWiusE/s1600/2020+PSL+Grand+Prix+Imports.jpg){kind=link}
No comments