# 2015 Philippine Super Liga season

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.

## 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.
* 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.

## 2015 draft (Women's Division)

The draft was held on March 12, 2015 at SM Aura Premier, Taguig.

### First round

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

### Second round

| Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team | College |
| 1 | Siemens Desiree Dadang | Middle | Philippines | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | NU |
| 2 | Dennise Michelle Lazaro | Libero | Philippines | Foton Tornadoes | ADMU |
| 3 | Diane Ticar | Setter | Philippines | Cignal HD Spikers | Arellano |
| 4 | Djanel Welch Cheng | Setter | Philippines | Shopinas.com Lady Clickers | CSB |
| 5 | Samantha Dawson | Opposite Spiker | Philippines | Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions | FEU |
| 6 | Ivy Jizel Perez | Setter | Philippines | 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. There was no men's tournament for this conference.
2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference teams (Women's Division) :
| Abbr. | Team | Company | Head coach | Team Captain |
| CIG | Cignal HD Spikers | Cignal TV, Inc. | Sammy Acaylar | Charrisse Ancheta (SSC-R) |
| FOT | Foton Tornadoes | United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. | Ma. Vilet Ponce de Leon | Ivy Remulla (DLSU) |
| MNT | Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions | Federated Distributors, Inc. | Rosemarie Prochina | Jill Gustilo (Adamson) |
| PHG | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | Federated Distributors, Inc. | Francis Vicente | Michele Gumabao (DLSU) |
| PET | Petron Blaze Spikers | Petron Corporation | George Pascua | Maica Morada (FEU) |
| SHOP | Shopinas.com Lady Clickers | Air21 Global, Inc. | Ramil de Jesus | Michelle Laborte (USLS) |
Classification round (March 21 to April 23, 2015):
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Petron Blaze Spikers | 10 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 30 | 7 | 4.286 | 881 | 709 | 1.243 |
| 2 | Shopinas.com Lady Clickers | 10 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 22 | 16 | 1.375 | 812 | 819 | 0.991 |
| 3 | Foton Tornadoes | 10 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 1.111 | 843 | 795 | 1.060 |
| 4 | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 10 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 0.857 | 811 | 849 | 0.955 |
| 5 | Cignal HD Spikers | 10 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 0.417 | 718 | 797 | 0.901 |
| 6 | Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions | 10 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 0.417 | 713 | 809 | 0.881 |
Playoffs (April 25 to May 16, 2015):
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | | | 1 | Petron Blaze Spikers | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 3 | 4 | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Cignal HD Spikers | 2 | | | | 1 | Petron Blaze Spikers | 3 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Shopinas.com Lady Clickers | 1 |
| | | | 2 | Shopinas.com Lady Clickers | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Foton Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | Foton Tornadoes | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions | 0 | | | | | | |
Final standing:
| Rank | 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 roster
* Mary 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 | Award | Women's |
| MVP | MVP | Rachel Anne Daquis |
| Best Outside Spiker | 1st: | Charleen Abigail Cruz |
| Best Outside Spiker | 2nd: | Patty Jane Orendain |
| Best Middle Blocker | 1st: | Aleona Denise Manabat |
| Best Middle Blocker | 2nd: | Abigail Maraño |
| Best Opposite Spiker | Best Opposite Spiker | Michele Gumabao |
| Best Setter | Best Setter | Iris Tolenada |
| Best Libero | 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.
2015 PSL Grand Prix Conference teams (Women's Division) :
| Abbr. | Team | Company | Head coach | Team Captain | Imports |
| CIG | Cignal HD Spikers | Cignal TV, Inc. | Sammy Acaylar | Michelle Laborte (USLS) | Amanda Anderson Ariel Usher |
| FOT | Foton Tornadoes | United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. | Ma. Vilet Ponce de Leon | Ivy Remulla (DLSU) | Katie Messing Lindsay Stalzer |
| MER | MERALCO Power Spikers | Manila Electric Company | Ramil de Jesus | Charleen Abigail Cruz (DLSU) | Christina Alessi Liis Kullerkann |
| PET | Petron Blaze Spikers | Petron Corporation | George Pascua | Maica Morada (FEU) | Erica Adachi Rupia Inck Furtado |
| PHG | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | Federated Distributors, Inc. | Francis Vicente | Michele Gumabao (DLSU) | Alexis Olgard Bojana Todorovic |
| RCC | RC Cola Air Force Raiders | ARC Refreshments Corporation | Rhovyl Verayo | Judy Ann Caballejo (UST) | Sarah McClinton Lynda Morales |
Classification round (October 10 to November 16, 2015):
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 10 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 27 | 14 | 1.929 | 930 | 865 | 1.075 |
| 2 | Petron Blaze Spikers | 10 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 26 | 15 | 1.733 | 923 | 831 | 1.111 |
| 3 | Cignal HD Spikers | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 1.353 | 866 | 829 | 1.045 |
| 4 | Foton Tornadoes | 10 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 1.533 | 838 | 767 | 1.093 |
| 5 | MERALCO Power Spikers | 10 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 0.333 | 735 | 839 | 0.876 |
| 6 | RC Cola Air Force Raiders | 10 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 29 | 0.310 | 747 | 908 | 0.823 |
Playoffs (November 19 to December 5, 2015):
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 19 Nov | 19 Nov |
| Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 0 |
| Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 0 | 26 Nov - 5 Dec | 26 Nov - 5 Dec |
| Foton Tornadoes | 1 | 26 Nov - 5 Dec | 26 Nov - 5 Dec |
| Foton Tornadoes | 1 | Foton Tornadoes | 2 |
| 19 Nov | 19 Nov | | Foton Tornadoes | 2 |
| 19 Nov | 19 Nov | Petron Blaze Spikers | 1 |
| Petron Blaze Spikers | 1 | Petron Blaze Spikers | 1 |
| Cignal HD Spikers | 0 | | |
| Cignal HD Spikers | 0 | 3rd place match | 3rd place match |
| | | 21 Nov | 21 Nov |
| | | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | 1 |
| | | Cignal HD Spikers | 0 |
Final standings:
| Rank | Team |
| | Foton Tornadoes |
| | Petron Blaze Spikers |
| | Philips Gold Lady Slammers |
| 4 | Cignal HD Spikers |
| 5 | MERALCO Power Spikers |
| 6 | RC Cola Air Force Raiders |
* Qualified for the 2016 Asian Club Volleyball Championship
* 2015 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix Conference Champions
* Foton Tornadoes 1st title
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 | Award | Name/Team |
| MVP | MVP | Lindsay Stalzer (Foton) |
| Best Outside Spiker | 1st: | Ariel Elizabeth Usher (Cignal) |
| Best Outside Spiker | 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 | Best Libero | Jennylyn Reyes (Petron) |
| Coach of the Year | Coach of the Year | George Pascua (Petron) |

## Beach Volleyball
### Women's Division

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

2015 PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup teams (Men's Division) :
| Abbr. | Team | Company | Head coach | Players |
| CEN | CenterStage Family KTV | CenterStage Family KTV | | John Carlo Lozada and Rence Melgar |
| CHAMP-A | Champion Infinity Active Smashers (Team A) | Peerless Products Corporation | | Angelo Espiritu and Nestor Molate |
| CHAMP-B | Champion Infinity Active Smashers (Team B) | Peerless Products Corporation | | Marjun Alingasa and Tippy Tipgos |
| CIG-A | Cignal HD Spikers (Team A) | Cignal TV, Inc. | Sammy Acaylar | Sandy Montero and Edmar Bonono |
| CIG-B | Cignal HD Spikers (Team B) | Cignal TV, Inc. | Sammy Acaylar | Jay dela Cruz and Emmanuel Luces |
| IEM | IEM Volley Masters | Instituto Estetico Manila | | Michael Ian Conde and Karl dela Calzada |
| SM-A | SM By The Bay (Team A) | SM Prime Holdings | Eric Lecain | Jade Becaldo and Hachaliah Gilbuena |
| SM-B | SM By The Bay (Team B) | SM Prime Holdings | Eric Lecain | Tim Young and Daniel Young |
| UPHSD-A | UPHSD Altas - Molino (Team A) | University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Molino | | Fernando Alboro and Ronel del Mundo |
| UPHSD-B | UPHSD Altas - Molino (Team B) | University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Molino | | Emanuel Gamat and Paolo Aloña |
Final standing:
| Rank | 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. The team placed 12th out of 14 competitors.
Philippines (18th Asian Women's Championship) :
| No. | Player | Ht. | College | PSL Club | Position |
| 3 | Angelique Beatrice Dionela | 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) | UPHSD | Cignal HD Spikers | Defensive specialist |
| 4 | Carmina Aganon | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | NU | Petron Blaze Spikers | Outside hitter |
| 5 | Melissa Gohing | 1.59 m (5 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | DLSU | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | Libero |
| 6 | Jeanette Panaga | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | CSB | Cignal HD Spikers | Middle blocker |
| 7 | Michele Gumabao (c) | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | DLSU | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | Opposite hitter |
| 10 | Iris Tolenada | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | San Francisco State | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | Setter |
| 11 | Ma. Lourdes Clemente | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | UPHSD | Cignal HD Spikers | Middle blocker |
| 13 | Kim Kianna Dy | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | DLSU | Shopinas.com Lady Clickers | Middle blocker |
| 14 | Ma. Abigail Praca | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | USJ-R | Mane 'n Tail Lady Stallions | Middle blocker |
| 15 | Ivy Jisel Perez | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | NU | Petron Blaze Spikers | Setter |
| 17 | Myla Pablo | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | NU | Philips Gold Lady Slammers | Outside hitter |
| 18 | Frances Molina | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | San Beda | Petron Blaze Spikers | Middle hitter/outside hitter |

### AVC Club Championships

The champions of the 2014 Grand Prix - the Petron Blaze Spikers (women's) and the Cignal HD Spikers (men's) - 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.
* 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).

## Brand ambassador

* Charleen Abigail Cruz

## 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.