Foton Tornadoes rebrand for this season’s Superliga

By Kristel Satumbaga

The Foton Tornadoes will be flaunting a new name in this year’s Philippine Superliga season as part of a fresh start in their title campaign.

Now called the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, a series of Chinese-made vehicles, the change hopes to bolster a new beginning for the squad composed of veteran and rising stars.

“We’re fiercer, strong 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 end in May.

Jaja currently plays for Ageo Medics in a Japanese club league while Santiago-Manabat is under contract with Kurobe AquaFairies also in Japan.

“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.

Source: Manila Bulletin