By Kristel Satumbaga
THE Foton Tornadoes will be carrying a new name in this year’s Philippine Superliga season as they intend to start the season on a winning note.
They will now be called Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the management is hoping the change will yield positive result as it tabbed several promising players to firm up its roster.
“We’re fiercer, stronger and more competitive this year,” said Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez in Wednesday’s press briefing.
Part of the change is the acquisition of Mylene Paat from Cignal and Jasmine Nabor from PLDT to strengthen their already loaded lineup.
Paat is a member of the national team that competed in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games while Nabor is a former National University standout.
The new recruits will join sisters Eya and EJ Laure, as well as Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
The Santiago sisters, however, will play after their contracts in Japan end in May.
Jaja currently plays for Ageo Medics while Santiago-Manabat is under contract with Kurobe AquaFairies.
“Hopefully, if all things go as planned, Jaja and Dindin will join us this May,” Velez said.
Other members of the team are Shaya Adorador, Rachel Austero, Laizah Ann Bendong, Marian Buitre, Joy Dacoron, Justine Dorog, Ria Duremdes, Elaine Kasilag, Arriane Layug, Jannine Navarro, Maika Ortiz, Jen Reyes and Gyzelle Sy.
Carrying Foton’s name, the team last won the title in the 2016 Grand Prix. They finished fourth in last year’s Invitational and All-Filipino Conferences, and seventh out of eight squads in the Grand Prix.
