MANILA – The already rich has become even richer after the Petron Blaze Spikers acquired the services of national women’s volleyball team libero Dennise “Denden” Lazaro ahead of the 2019 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix next month.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles libero made her transfer to the defending champions Blaze Spikers after finishing her contract with Cocolife Asset Managers.
Lazaro’s move to Blaze Spikers came at the right time after losing its top libero Ilongga Ria Duremdes, who will play for the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball next month.
At the Blaze Spikers, Lazaro will be joining her fellow national team mainstays Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, and Rhea Dimaculangan as well as American imports Stephanie Niemer and Katherine Bell.
To make up for the departure of Lazaro, the Asset Managers got veteran libero Shiela Pineda from Generika-Ayala Lifesavers as well as Amy Ahomiro, who will make her PSL debut after spending time at the Premier Volleyball League.
“Amy, who will play in the PSL for the first time in her career, will give us depth in the middle while Bang will help us overcome the dearth created by Denden’s absence in the backline,” said Cocolife team manager Joshua Ylaya.
Pineda and Ahomiro will join the Asset Managers mainstays Gyra Barroga, Justine Tiu, Denice Tan and Kalei Mau as they aim to improve their semifinals finish in Grand Prix last year.
“Our lineup may still be a work in progress, but rest assured that we will be very competitive to give the heavyweights a serious fight in the upcoming PSL Grand Prix,” Ylaya said./PN
