Manila, Philippines, July 25, 2016 – Petron’s Frances Molina has been named as the sixth star to join the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Manila team for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena from October 18 to 23.
Molina was given the golden ticket by PSL president Ramon Suzara and training director Sammy Acaylar prior to F2 Logistics’ clash with RC Col-Army on Sunday.
As a powerful outside spiker, the 21-year-old Molina joins the team with experience from the Asian Women’s Championship in China and the Asian Women’s Club Championship in Vietnam.
She was awarded as the 2nd Best Outside Spiker and was part of Petron’s squad that emerged with a clean 13-0 sweep of the PSL All-Filipino Conference last year.
“We chose her for her power and ability to handle pressure,” Suzara said. “More than anything else, she’s only 21; she still has a lot of good years ahead of her, especially if she can gain good exposure in a prestigious tournament such as the Women’s Club World Championship.”
Molina said she didn’t expect to get this opportunity as she is still recovering from a shoulder injury. Despite that, she welcomed her inclusion in the historic team that will be facing the world’s best club teams in a five-day volleyball festival.
“Although this came as a surprise, I am so honoured to be part of the team,” Molina said. “I am looking forward to testing my skills and talent against the best teams in the world and, at the same time, learn more from our foreign team-mates and coaches. This is such a major achievement.”
Molina will join Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga of RC Cola-Army, Kim Fajardo of F2 Logistics, Jennylyn Reyes of Petron and Alyja Santiago of Foton on the team.
Hosts PSL Manila will welcome with Rexona-Sesc Rio of Brazil, Pomì Casalmaggiore of Italy, Hisamitsu Springs Kobe of Japan, Bangkok Glass of Thailand, Volero Zürich of Switzerland as well as VakifBank Istanbul and Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul of Turkey for the world’s premier club tournament.