2015 Philippine Super Liga season explained

2015 PSL season
Year:	2015
Duration:	March 21 - December 5, 2015
No Of Teams:	Women's: 6
Top Pick:	Iris Tolenada (San Francisco State)
Picked By:	Philips Gold Lady Slammers
Conf1:	All-Filipino
Conf1 Link:	2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference
Conf1 Champ:	Women's: Petron Blaze Spikers Men's: (no tournament)
Conf1 Runner-Up:	Women's: Shopinas.com Lady Clickers
Conf2:	Beach Challenge Cup
Conf2 Link:	2015 PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup
Conf2 Champ:	Women's: Giligan's Sisig Queens Men's: SM By The Bay (Team A)
Conf2 Runner-Up:	Women's: Foton Tornadoes Men's: Champion Infinity (Team B)
Conf3:	Grand Prix
Conf3 Link:	2015 PSL Grand Prix Conference
Conf3 Champ:	Women's: Foton Tornadoes Men's: (no tournament)
Conf3 Runner-Up:	Women's: Petron Blaze Spikers
Conf4:	Beach Open Series
Conf4 Link:	2015 PSL Beach Volleyball Open Series
Prevseason Link:	2014 PSL season
Prevseason Year:	2014
Nextseason Link:	2016 PSL season
Nextseason Year:	2016
Tv:	TV5, AksyonTV, Sports5.ph, Solar Sports
Website:	PSL website

The 2015 PSL season is the third season of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL). There were two indoor conferences for the season – the All-Filipino, and the Grand Prix. It staged its first beach volleyball tournament, the Challenge Cup, for the women's and men's divisions.^[1]

Developments

The PSL is now sanctioned under the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI), the newest governing body for volleyball in the Philippines under the leadership of POC 1st Vice President Joey Romasanta, aside for being recognized by the AVC and the FIVB. The PSL was first sanctioned by the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) until the federation was stripped of its recognition by the local (POC) and foreign (FIVB, AVC) sport governing bodies. The LVPI also supported the stints of Cignal and Petron who participated in the Asian Club Championships, and helped on the processing of the imports transfer clearances for the 12 imports that played in the Grand Prix.^[2]
The PSL introduced the use of "skorts", a combination of tennis-like skirts and shorts, as part of the women's uniforms during the All Filipino Conference, but it was discontinued during the PSL Grand Prix.
Continuous coaching and players, television crew, officiating (referees), volleyball information system, press corps and medical seminars.
After the introduction of the Men's Division in the PSL in 2013, the PSL launched the Beach Volleyball division thru the Challenge Cup and Open Series.
The PSL's official newspaper, PSL Trending, managed by the PSL Press Corps under its president, Marc Anthony Reyes of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. PSL Trending is given to the fans for free at the venues during gamedays.
The PSL has partnered with the TV5 Network (TV5, AksyonTV and Sports5.ph) for three years starting 2015, for broadcast and online coverage.
The PSL became the third Southeast Asian-based volleyball club league (next to Thailand and Vietnam) to utilize the video challenge system to decide crucial calls of the games for a fair and balanced officiating, as part of the full compliance to the FIVB rules. The video challenge equipment arrived on October 26, 2015 and was used during the second round of the 2015 Grand Prix conference.^[3]

2015 draft (Women's Division)

The draft was held on March 12, 2015 at SM Aura Premier, Taguig.^[4] ^[5] ^[6]

First round

Pick	Player	Position	Team	College
1	Iris Tolenada	Setter	Philips Gold Lady Slammers	San Francisco State
2	Angeli Araneta	Middle Blocker	Foton Tornadoes	UP
3	Rica Enclona	Libero	Cignal HD Spikers	CSB
4	Rizza Jane Mandapat	Opposite Spiker	Shopinas.com Lady Clickers	NU
5	Maureen Veronas	Opposite Spiker/ Outside Hitter	Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions	CSB
6	Alexa Micek	Opposite Spiker	Petron Blaze Spikers	NC State

Second round

Pick	Player	Position	Team	College
1	Siemens Desiree Dadang	Middle	Philips Gold Lady Slammers	NU
2	Dennise Michelle Lazaro	Libero	Foton Tornadoes	ADMU
3	Diane Ticar	Setter	Cignal HD Spikers	Arellano
4	Djanel Welch Cheng	Setter	Shopinas.com Lady Clickers	CSB
5	Samantha Dawson	Opposite Spiker	Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions	FEU
6	Ivy Jizel Perez	Setter	Petron Blaze Spikers	NU

Indoor Volleyball

All-Filipino Conference

The Petron Blaze Spikers became the first team to sweep a PSL tournament with a 13–0 record and claim the All-Filipino championship, its second consecutive PSL title.^[7] ^[8] ^[9] There was no men's tournament for this conference.

Abbr.	Team	Company	Colors	Head coach	Team Captain
style=background:#00008B colspan=6	2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference teams (Women's Division)
align=center	CIG	align=center	Cignal HD Spikers	align=center	Cignal TV, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Sammy Acaylar	align=center	Charrisse Ancheta (SSC-R)
align=center	FOT	align=center	Foton Tornadoes	align=center	United Asia Automotive Group, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Ma. Vilet Ponce de Leon	align=center	Ivy Remulla (DLSU)
align=center	MNT	align=center	Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions	align=center	Federated Distributors, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Rosemarie Prochina	align=center	Jill Gustilo (Adamson)
align=center	PHG	align=center	Philips Gold Lady Slammers	align=center	Federated Distributors, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Francis Vicente	align=center	Michele Gumabao (DLSU)
align=center	PET	align=center	Petron Blaze Spikers	align=center	Petron Corporation	align=center	align=center	George Pascua	align=center	Maica Morada (FEU)
align=center	SHOP	align=center	Shopinas.com Lady Clickers	align=center	Air21 Global, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Ramil de Jesus	align=center	Michelle Laborte (USLS)

Classification round (March 21 to April 23, 2015):

Playoffs (April 25 to May 16, 2015):

Final standing:

width=40 style="background:#00008B; color:#FFD700;"	Rank	width=180 style="background:#00008B; color:#FFD700;"	Team
	Petron Blaze Spikers
	Shopinas.com Lady Clickers
	Philips Gold Lady Slammers
4	Foton Tornadoes
5	Cignal HD Spikers
6	Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions

2015 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference
Petron Blaze Spikers
2nd title
Team rosterMary Grace Masangkay, Abigail Maraño, Rachel Anne Daquis, Carmina Aganon, Luisa Mae Zapanta, Jozza Cabalsa, Frances Xinia Molina, Alexa Micek, Ivy Perez, Ana Ma. Del Mundo, Jennylyn Reyes, Mecaila Irish May Morada (c), Fille Cayetano, Aleona Denise Manabat Head coach George Pascua

Awards:

Award		Women's
MVP		Rachel Anne Daquis
Best Outside Spiker	1st:	Charleen Abigail Cruz
2nd:	Patty Jane Orendain
Best Middle Blocker	1st:	Aleona Denise Manabat
Best Middle Blocker	2nd:	Abigail Maraño
Best Opposite Spiker		Michele Gumabao
Best Setter		Iris Tolenada
Best Libero		Jennylyn Reyes

Grand Prix Conference

The Grand Prix Conference started on October 10, 2015 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna. There was no men's tournament for this conference.

Abbr.	Team	Company	Colors	Head coach	Team Captain	Imports
style=background:#00008B colspan=7	2015 PSL Grand Prix Conference teams (Women's Division)
align=center	CIG	align=center	Cignal HD Spikers	align=center	Cignal TV, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Sammy Acaylar	align=center	Michelle Laborte (USLS)	align=center	Amanda Anderson Ariel Usher
align=center	FOT	align=center	Foton Tornadoes	align=center	United Asia Automotive Group, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Ma. Vilet Ponce de Leon	align=center	Ivy Remulla (DLSU)	align=center	Katie Messing Lindsay Stalzer
align=center	MER	align=center	MERALCO Power Spikers	align=center	Manila Electric Company	align=center	align=center	Ramil de Jesus	align=center	Charleen Abigail Cruz (DLSU)	align=center	Christina Alessi Liis Kullerkann
align=center	PET	align=center	Petron Blaze Spikers	align=center	Petron Corporation	align=center	align=center	George Pascua	align=center	Maica Morada (FEU)	align=center	Erica Adachi Rupia Inck Furtado
align=center	PHG	align=center	Philips Gold Lady Slammers	align=center	Federated Distributors, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Francis Vicente	align=center	Michele Gumabao (DLSU)	align=center	Alexis Olgard Bojana Todorovic
align=center	RCC	align=center	RC Cola Air Force Raiders	align=center	ARC Refreshments Corporation	align=center	align=center	Rhovyl Verayo	align=center	Judy Ann Caballejo (UST)	align=center

Classification round (October 10 to November 16, 2015):

Playoffs (November 19 to December 5, 2015):

Final standings:

width=40 style="background:#E4287C; color:#FFFFFF;"	Rank	width=180 style="background:#E4287C; color:#FFFFFF;"	Team
	Foton Tornadoes
	Petron Blaze Spikers
	Philips Gold Lady Slammers
4	Cignal HD Spikers
5	MERALCO Power Spikers
6	RC Cola Air Force Raiders

width=10px bgcolor=#ccffcc		Qualified for the 2016 Asian Club Volleyball Championship

**Team roster**
1.) Angeli Araneta
2.) Katie Messing
3.) Jaja Santiago
4.) Patty Orendain
5.) Kara Acevedo
6.) Lindsay Stalzer
7.) Ivy Remulla (c)
8.) May Macatuno
9.) Ivy Perez
10.) Kayla Williams
11.) Bia General
16.) Royce Estampa
17.) Fiola Ceballos
18.) Jeannie delos Reyes
Head coach:
Ma. Vilet Ponce de Leon

Award		Name/Team
MVP		Lindsay Stalzer (Foton)
Best Outside Spiker	1st:	Ariel Elizabeth Usher (Cignal)
2nd:	Bojana Todorovic (Philips Gold)
Best Middle Blocker	1st:	Alexis Olgard (Philips Gold)
Best Middle Blocker	2nd:	Alyja Daphne Santiago (Foton)
Best Opposite Spiker	1st:	Michele Gumabao (Philips Gold)
Best Opposite Spiker	2nd:	Frances Xinia Molina (Petron)
Best Setter	1st:	Ivy Jizel Perez (Foton)
Best Setter	2nd:	Erica Adachi (Petron)
Best Libero		Jennylyn Reyes (Petron)
Coach of the Year		George Pascua (Petron)

Beach Volleyball

Women's Division

Abbr.	Team	Company	Colors	Head coach	Players
style=background:#00008B colspan=6	2015 PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup teams (Women's Division)
align=center	AQP-A	align=center	Accel Quantum (Team A)	align=center	Sporteum Philippines / UPHSD-Molino	align=center	align=center		align=center	Evangeline Pastor and Kim Ygay
align=center	AQP-B	align=center	Accel Quantum (Team B)	align=center	Sporteum Philippines / UPHSD-Molino	align=center	align=center		align=center	Tripoli Aurora and Rochet Dela Paz
align=center	AMY	align=center	Amy's Kitchen	align=center	Sonia Trading, Inc.	align=center	align=center		align=center	Marleen Cortel and Samantha Dawson
align=center	BEN	align=center	BENECO	align=center	Benguet Electric Cooperative	align=center	align=center	Jun Nisperos	align=center	Cindy Benitez and Florence Madulid
align=center	CIG-A	align=center	Cignal HD Spikers (Team A)	align=center	Cignal TV, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Sammy Acaylar	align=center	Charleen Cruz and Michelle Laborte
align=center	CIG-B	align=center	Cignal HD Spikers (Team B)	align=center	Cignal TV, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Sammy Acaylar	align=center	April Rose Hingpit and Jeushl Wensh Tiu
align=center	FOT-A	align=center	Foton Hurricanes	align=center	United Asia Automotive Group, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Yani Fernandez	align=center	Maria Paulina Soriano and Bea Tan
align=center	FOT-B	align=center	Foton Tornadoes	align=center	United Asia Automotive Group, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Yani Fernandez	align=center	Patty Orendain and Fiola Ceballos
align=center	GIL	align=center	Giligan's Sisig Queens	align=center	Giligan's Restaurant	align=center	align=center		align=center	Danika Gendrauli and Norie Jane Diaz
align=center	MER	align=center	MERALCO	align=center	Manila Electric Company	align=center	align=center	Emil Lontoc	align=center	Jem Gutierrez and Jusabille Brillo
align=center	PET-A	align=center	Petron Sprint 4T	align=center	Petron Corporation	align=center	align=center	George Pascua	align=center	Alexa Micek and Fille Cayetano
align=center	PET-B	align=center	Petron XCS	align=center	Petron Corporation	align=center	align=center	George Pascua	align=center	Gretchen Ho and Ma. Rosario Soriano
align=center	PHG	align=center	Philips Gold Lady Slammers	align=center	Federated Distributors, Inc.	align=center	align=center		align=center	Aileen Abuel and Rossan Fajardo

Final standing:

width=40 style="background:#00008B; color:#FFD700;"	Rank	width=180 style="background:#00008B; color:#FFD700;"	Team
	Giligan's Sisig Queens
	Foton Tornadoes
	Cignal HD Spikers (Team B)
4	Foton Hurricanes
5	MERALCO Power Spikers
6	Petron XCS
7	Amy's Kitchen
8	Philips Gold Lady Slammers
9	Petron Sprint 4T
10	Accel Quantum (Team B)
11	BENECO
12	Accel Quantum (Team A)
13	Cignal HD Spikers (Team A)

2015 Philippine Super Liga Beach Challenge Cup
Giligan's Sisig Queens
1st title
Team roster Danika Gendrauli and Norie Jane Diaz

Men's Division

Abbr.	Team	Company	Colors	Head coach	Players
style=background:#00008B colspan=6	2015 PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup teams (Men's Division)
align=center	CEN	align=center	CenterStage Family KTV	align=center	CenterStage Family KTV	align=center	align=center		align=center	John Carlo Lozada and Rence Melgar
align=center	CHAMP-A	align=center	Champion Infinity Active Smashers (Team A)	align=center	Peerless Products Corporation	align=center	align=center		align=center	Angelo Espiritu and Nestor Molate
align=center	CHAMP-B	align=center	Champion Infinity Active Smashers (Team B)	align=center	Peerless Products Corporation	align=center	align=center		align=center	Marjun Alingasa and Tippy Tipgos
align=center	CIG-A	align=center	Cignal HD Spikers (Team A)	align=center	Cignal TV, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Sammy Acaylar	align=center	Sandy Montero and Edmar Bonono
align=center	CIG-B	align=center	Cignal HD Spikers (Team B)	align=center	Cignal TV, Inc.	align=center	align=center	Sammy Acaylar	align=center	Jay dela Cruz and Emmanuel Luces
align=center	IEM	align=center	IEM Volley Masters	align=center	Instituto Estetico Manila	align=center	align=center		align=center	Michael Ian Conde and Karl dela Calzada
align=center	SM-A	align=center	SM By The Bay (Team A)	align=center	SM Prime Holdings	align=center	align=center	Eric Lecain	align=center	Jade Becaldo and Hachaliah Gilbuena
align=center	SM-B	align=center	SM By The Bay (Team B)	align=center	SM Prime Holdings	align=center	align=center	Eric Lecain	align=center	Tim Young and Daniel Young
align=center	UPHSD-A	align=center	UPHSD Altas - Molino (Team A)	align=center	University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Molino	align=center	align=center		align=center	Fernando Alboro and Ronel del Mundo
align=center	UPHSD-B	align=center	UPHSD Altas - Molino (Team B)	align=center	University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Molino	align=center	align=center		align=center	Emanuel Gamat and Paolo Aloña

Final standing:

width=40 style="background:#00008B; color:#FFD700;"	Rank	width=180 style="background:#00008B; color:#FFD700;"	Team
	SM By The Bay (Team A)
	Champion Infinity (Team B)
	Cignal HD Spikers (Team A)
4	CenterStage Family KTV
5	Cignal HD Spikers (Team B)
6	Champion Infinity (Team A)
7	UPHSD Altas - Molino (Team A)
8	IEM Volley Masters
9	UPHSD Altas - Molino (Team B)
10	SM By The Bay (Team B)

2015 Philippine Super Liga Beach Challenge Cup
SM By The Bay (Team A)
1st title
Team roster Jade Becaldo and Hachaliah Gilbuena Head Coach: Eric Lecain

International competitions

AVC Asian Women's Championship

An all-PSL selection represented the Philippines in the 2015 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship.^[10] ^[11] ^[12] ^[13] The team placed 12th out of 14 competitors.

Philippines (18th Asian Women's Championship)
width=8px style="background: white; color: black; text-align: center"	No.	width=200px style="background: white; color: black"	Player	width=150px style="background: white; color: black"	Ht.	width=100px style="background: white; color: black"	College	width=250px style="background: white; color: black"	PSL Club	width=150px style="background: white; color: black"	Position
3	Angelique Beatrice Dionela				Defensive specialist
4	Carmina Aganon				Outside hitter
5	Melissa Gohing				Libero
6	Jeanette Panaga				Middle blocker
7	Michele Gumabao (c)				Opposite hitter
10	Iris Tolenada				Setter
11	Ma. Lourdes Clemente				Middle blocker
13	Kim Kianna Dy				Middle blocker
14	Ma. Abigail Praca				Middle blocker
15	Ivy Jisel Perez				Setter
17	Myla Pablo				Outside hitter
18	Frances Molina				Middle hitter/outside hitter

Coaching staff

Head coach:
Sinfronio "Sammy" Acaylar (CIG)
Assistant coach(es):
Francis Vicente (PHG)
Rosemarie Prochina (MNT)
Benson Bocboc (SHP)

Team staff

Team manager:
Team Utility:

Medical staff

Team physician:
Physical therapist:
Marie Ong

AVC Club Championships

The champions of the 2014 Grand Prix - the Petron Blaze Spikers (women's)^[14] and the Cignal HD Spikers (men's)^[15] ^[16] - represented the Philippines in the 2015 AVC Club Volleyball Championships.

The Petron Blaze Spikers placed 8th out of 9 competitors in the women's tournament held in Vietnam on September 12 to 20, 2015.^[17]
The Cignal HD Spikers placed 12th out of 16 competitors in the men's tournament held in Taipei on August 13 to 21, 2015.

Spike For Peace International Beach Volleyball

The women's division champions of the 2015 Beach Challenge Cup, Danika Gendrauli and Norie Jane Diaz, were the PSL representatives in the 2015 Spike For Peace International Beach Volleyball Tournament held in Manila from November 29 to December 3, 2015.

Gendrauli and Diaz played as Philippines (Team B). Charo Soriano and Alexa Micek represented the Shakey's V-League and played as Philippines (Team A).

Team A finished 12th and Team B finished 13th (last).

Venues

All-Filipino Conference:

Cuneta Astrodome (main venue)
Mall of Asia Arena (March 21 - opening day)
Filoil Flying V Arena (March 29 and March 30)
Alonte Sports Arena ("Spike on Tour" / March 26, April 9 and April 18)
Quezon Convention Center ("Spike on Tour" / April 25)^[18]
Imus City Sports Center ("Spike on Tour" / May 11 / Finals Game 1)

Beach Volleyball:

Sands - SM By The Bay (SM Mall of Asia)

Grand Prix:

Cuneta Astrodome (main venue)
Filoil Flying V Arena (secondary venue)
Alonte Sports Arena (October 10 - opening day)
Malolos Sports and Convention Center ("Spike on Tour" / November 7)
De La Salle Lipa ("Spike on Tour" / November 14)
Imus City Sports Center ("Spike on Tour" / November 21)

Brand ambassador

Charleen Abigail Cruz^[19]

Broadcast partners

TV5, AksyonTV, Sports5.ph
Solar Sports

Controversies

On October, PVF President Edgardo "Boy" Cantada, condemned the act of the LVPI and Score (headed by Ramon Suzara, the president of PSL, and one of the masterminds in the withdrawal of recognition of PVF in the POC, AVC, and FIVB) over the incident involving 12 imports of the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix who have gone through the immigration process and play in the league without any necessary working permits and other documents of foreigners who will work in the country. He also criticized LVPI and Suzara for blatant disregard and abuse of the Philippine immigration and labor laws over the incident.^[20]

Notes and References

Web site: Bigger, better Superliga marks third season . . February 20, 2015 . February 20, 2015 . Julius Manicad.
News: PSL completes imports' ITC, all set for Grand Prix. PSL website. October 9, 2015.
News: PSL unveils video challenge system as unbeaten Cignal clashes with champ Petron. Spin.ph. 2015-10-26.
Web site: HEAD-TURNERS: FIL-FOREIGN PLAYERS SIGN UP FOR PSL DRAFT . ABS-CBN Sports. February 24, 2015.
Web site: PH Superliga to welcome 24 rookies - Manila Standard Today . 2015-02-20 . 2015-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220092922/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/02/20/ph-superliga-to-welcome-24-rookies/ . dead .
Web site: PH Super Liga sees banner year Tempo Sports . 2015-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220093344/http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2015/02/20/ph-super-liga-sees-banner-year/ . 2015-02-20 . dead .
Web site: Petron blazes new Superliga title trail. 15 May 2015.
Web site: Superliga's super sweep Petron Blaze beats Shopinas for PSL crown Sports, News, The Philippine Star philstar.com . . 2015-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150516011947/http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/05/15/1454951/superligas-super-sweep-petron-blaze-beats-shopinas-psl-crown . 2015-05-16 . dead .
Web site: Petron wins 2nd Superliga crown Tempo Sports . 2015-05-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150530042234/http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2015/05/15/petron-wins-2nd-superliga-crown/ . 2015-05-30 .
Web site: AVC Board approves latest updates on 2014 and 2015 competitions . . 29 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140828164040/http://www.asianvolleyball.org/news/detail/id/2613/category/AVC%2BNews/navf . 28 August 2014 .
Web site: PSL Stars to Banner Philippines in 18th Asian Sr. Women's Championships - the PLDT Home Ultera Philippine SuperLiga All Filipino Conference . 2015-04-15 . 2015-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150416114410/http://philippinesuperliga.com/wp/2015/04/3147/ . dead .
Web site: PSL stars to lead PH team in Asian Seniors tilt. 14 April 2015.
Web site: PH volley team boasts of powerhouse roster - Manila Standard Today . 2015-04-15 . 2015-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150416101254/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/04/15/ph-volley-team-boasts-of-powerhouse-roster/ . dead .
Web site: Blaze Spikers undaunted by tough opposition in Asian Women's Club Championship.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/sports/cignal-hd-competes-in-avc-men-s-tourney
Web site: Cignal PH bet in Asian volley tilt. 23 July 2015.
Web site: September 20, 2015 . Petron Blaze Spikers to come out stronger after 8th place finish . August 7, 2023 . Philstar.com.
News: Superliga goes to Quezon Province . . February 22, 2015 . February 23, 2015.
News: Cha Cruz named new PSL ambassador. ABS-CBN News. April 14, 2015. February 20, 2019.
News: Foreign players in Superliga under fire. Manila Times. 2015-10-25. 2015-10-26.