Foton Tornadoes

Foton Tornadoes

Short name	Foton
Nickname	Tornadoes
Founded	2014
Dissolved	2023 [a]
League	Philippine Super Liga (2014–2019) Premier Volleyball League (2023)
2023 Invitational	11th place
Championships
Philippine Super Liga: 2 (2015, 2016)

The Foton Tornadoes were a professional women's volleyball team owned by United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (UAAGI). ^[1] The first incarnation of the team was established in 2014 as a member of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL), winning two championships. The original Tornadoes were rebranded in 2020 to form what eventually became the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

In 2023, the team was revived as Chery Tiggo's sister team in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), marking their professional debut. That team only lasted one conference, the 2023 Invitational Conference, before disbanding once more.

History

The team debuted in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) during the 2014 Grand Prix as Foton Tornadoes. ^[2]

The original Foton team would be renamed as the Chery Tiggo Crossovers heading the 2020 season. ^{[3] [4]} Chery joined the professional PVL in 2021. ^[5]

In June 2023, the revival of the Foton Tornadoes team was announced. They played with Chery at the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference ^[6] At least seven Chery players moved to Foton. ^[7] They have pledged to participate in the PVL for at least the next three years. ^[8]

The team however withdraw for the succeeding second All-Filipino Conference after several of its players did not have their contracts renewed. The team was revealed to have been temporarily revived to accommodate surplus players from Chery. ^[9]

International tournaments

Members of Foton Pilipinas on a courtesy call with President Rodrigo Duterte before participating at the 2016 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship.

As the champion of the 2015 PSL Grand Prix, Foton represented the Philippines, playing as Foton Pilipinas, in the 2016 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship held in Biñan, Laguna. ^[10] The team was reinforced by three selected players from other PSL teams as well as imports Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher. ^[11] Italian coach and FIVB volleyball instructor Fabio Menta was named as head coach of the squad. ^[12] The team finished in 7th place overall after the 9-day competition. ^[13]

Having won the 2016 Grand Prix, the team was entered once more to the 2017 edition of the Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship. However, the club begged off because of its depleted lineup due to player movements and injuries. ^[14] In its place, the Philippines was represented by the PSL all-star selection (playing as "Rebisco-PSL Manila"). ^[15]

Name changes

Foton Motors (2014 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix Conference)
  
Foton Tornadoes (2014–2017)
   
Foton Toplanders (2016 Invitational Cup)
  
Foton Pilipinas (2016 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship)
   
Foton Tornadoes Blue Energy (2018–2019)
  

Final roster

Main article: 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference

Foton Tornadoes
Number	Player	Position	Height	Birth date	School
1	Carlota Hernandez	Outside Hitter	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)	(1999-04-02) April 2, 1999 (age 26)	FEU
2	Jasmine Nabor	Setter	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)	(1998-07-11) July 11, 1998 (age 27)	NU
3	Bernadette Flora	Outside Hitter	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)	(1998-08-16) August 16, 1998 (age 27)	ADU
5	Jaila Atienza	Middle blocker			UP
7	Seth Marione Rodriguez	Middle blocker	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)	(1998-09-22) September 22, 1998 (age 27)	UE
8	May Luna	Outside hitter	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)	(1992-08-02) August 2, 1992 (age 33)	DLSU
12	Mary Antonette Landicho	Libero			NU
14	Nerissa Bautista	Opposite Hitter	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)	(1985-10-12) October 12, 1985 (age 40)	CPU
15	France Ronquillo	Opposite hitter			NU
16	Sydney Mae Niegos	Middle Blocker			JRU
17	Mary Rhose Dapol	Outside Hitter			UPHSD
22	Babylove Barbon	Libero			UST
23	Ma. Shaya Adorador (C)	Outside hitter	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)	(1997-12-29) December 29, 1997 (age 27)	UE
24	Maria Regina Agatha Mangulabnan	Setter			UST

Coaching staff Head coach: Brian Esquibel Assistant coaches: Yani Fernandez Robertly Boto

Team staff Team manager: Trainer:

Medical staff Physical therapist:

Season-by-season records

Domestic league

League	Season	Conference	Preliminary round	Final round	Ranking	Source
PSL	2014	Grand Prix	6th (3–7, 9 pts)	Did not qualify Won in fifth place match vs. Mane 'n Tail, 3–2	5th place	[16]
	2015	All-Filipino	3rd (5–5, 16 pts)	Lost in semifinals vs. Shopinas.com, 2–3 Lost in third place match vs. Philips Gold, 2–3	4th place
		Grand Prix	4th (6–4, 19 pts)	Won in championship vs. Petron, 2–1 [A]	Champions	[17]
	2016	Invitational	5th (1–4, 3 pts)	Did not qualify	6th place
		All-Filipino	4th (4–3, 12 pts) (First round) 1st (3–0, 8 pts) (Second round)	Lost in championship vs. F2 Logistics, 1–2 [A]	Runner-up
		Grand Prix	1st (9–1, 25 pts)	Won in championship vs. Petron, 2–0 [A]	Champions
	2017	Invitational	3rd (3–2, 9 pts)	Finished 4th in final round (0–3, 0 pts)	4th place
		All-Filipino	1st (5–1, 15 pts) (Pool C)	Lost in semifinals vs. Petron, 1–3 Lost in third place match vs. Cignal, 1–3	4th place
		Grand Prix	3rd (7–1, 20 pts)	Lost in semifinals vs. Petron, 1–3 Won in third place match vs. Cocolife, 3–0	3rd place
	2018	Grand Prix	4th (5–5, 16 pts)	Lost in semifinals vs. F2 Logistics, 0–2 [A] Won in third place match vs. Cocolife, 3–1	3rd place
		Invitational	4th (1–3, 4 pts) (Group A)	Did not qualify Won in seventh place match vs. UP–United Auctioneers, 3–0	7th place
		All-Filipino	4th (6–4, 17 pts)	Lost in quarterfinals vs. Cignal, 1–3	5th place
	2019	Grand Prix	7th (3–11, 11 pts)	Lost in quarterfinals vs. F2 Logistics in two matches [B]	7th place
		All-Filipino	3rd (8–6, 25 pts)	Lost in semifinals vs. F2 Logistics, 1–3 [B] Lost in third place match vs. Petron, 2–3	4th place
		Invitational	2nd (2–1, 6 pts) (Pool D)	Lost in semifinals vs. Petron, 0–3 Lost in third place match vs. Cignal, 0–3	4th place
Team spun off to Chery Tiggo Crossovers from 2020 to 2023
PVL	2023	Invitational	5th (1–4, 2 pts) (Pool B)	Did not qualify Won in 11th place match vs. Gerflor, 3–1	11th place

Notes

1. Best-of-three series.
2. Opposing team had twice-to-beat advantage.

Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship

Year	Preliminary round	Final round	Ranking	Source
2016	2nd (1–1, 4 pts) (Pool A, preliminary round) 4th (0–3, 1 pt) (Pool E, classification round)	Lost in quarterfinals vs. Bayi Shenzhen, 0–3	7th place

Individual awards

Season	Conference	Award	Name
2015	All-Filipino	2nd Best Outside Spiker	Patty Jane Orendain
	Grand Prix	2nd Best Middle Blocker	Alyja Daphne Santiago
		1st Best Setter	Ivy Jizel Perez
		Most Valuable Player	Lindsay Stalzer
2016	All-Filipino	2nd Best Middle Blocker	Alyja Daphne Santiago
	Grand Prix
		2nd Best Outside Spiker	Ariel Usher
		2nd Best Middle Blocker	Maika Ortiz
		Most Valuable Player	Alyja Daphne Santiago
2017	Invitational	Best Opposite Spiker	Mary Grace Berte
	All-Filipino	1st Best Outside Spiker	Ennajie Laure
		Best Opposite Spiker	Alyja Daphne Santiago
	Grand Prix	1st Best Opposite Spiker	Alyja Daphne Santiago
2018	Grand Prix
		1st Best Opposite Spiker	Elizabeth Ann Wendel
		2nd Best Libero	Katarina Vukomanović
2019	All-Filipino	1st Best Middle Blocker	Alyja Daphne Santiago
		Best Opposite Spiker	Dindin Santiago-Manabat
	Invitational	2nd Best Outside Spiker	Shaya Adorador
		Best Libero	Jennylyn Reyes

Team captains

• Jill Gustilo (2014)
• Ivy Remulla (2015)
• Angeli Araneta (2016–2016)
• Lindsay Stalzer (2016)
• Aleona Denise Manabat (2017, 2018)
• Alyja Daphne Santiago (2017–2017)
• Maika Angela Ortiz (2018–2019)
• Carmina Aganon (2019)
• Shaya Adorador (2019, 2023)

Imports

Season	Country	Player
2014	Russia	Irina Tarasova
2015	United States	Kathleen Anne Messing
	United States	Lindsay Stalzer
2016	United States	Ariel Usher
	United States	Lindsay Stalzer
2017	Serbia	Sara Klisura
	Montenegro	Dragana Perunicic
	Serbia	Katarina Vukomanović
2018	Trinidad and Tobago	Channon Thompson
	Canada	Elizabeth Ann Wendell
	Serbia	Katarina Vukomanović
2019	Turkey	Selime İlyasoğlu
	United States	Courtney Felinski
	Spain	Milagros Collar

Coaches

• Ma. Vilet Ponce-de León (2014–2016)
• Fabio Menta (2016; Asian Women's Club Championship)
• Moro Branislav ^[18] (2016–2017) ^[19]
• Rommel Abella (2018; PSL Grand Prix)
• Edjet Mabbayad (2018; PSL Invitational)
• Aaron Vélez (2018–2019)
• Brian Esquibel (2023)

Notes

1. Shares history with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers. The original Foton team was renamed as Chery in 2020. Foton would be briefly revived as a separate team apart from Chery for the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference. That Foton team was dissolved after playing in that tournament.

References

1. "Volleyball: Foton tempers expectations in PVL return". ABS-CBN News. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
2. "Three new teams vie for honors in import-laced Superliga Grand Prix". website. spin.ph. Spin.ph. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
3. Bautista, Ohmer (January 8, 2020). "Foton rebrands to Chery Tiggo, assembles competitive ensemble for 2020 PSL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
4. Go, Beatrice (January 8, 2020). "New-look Foton Tornadoes rebrand to Chery Tiggo Crossovers". Rappler. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
5. "Volleyball: Chery Tiggo is latest team to join PVL". March 9, 2021.
6. Velasco, Jillian (June 2, 2023). "Foton makes comeback, joins sister team Chery Tiggo in PVL". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
7. Velasco, Jillian (June 16, 2023). "Seven former Chery Tiggo players cross over to PVL sister team Foton". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
8. Masoy, Niel Victor (June 19, 2023). "PVL gets commitment from 3 new teams". The Manila Times. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
9. Agcaoili, Lance (September 3, 2023). "Foton pulls out of PVL, some players return to Chery Tiggo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
10. "Tornadoes set goals high in 2016". Business Mirror. December 16, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
11. "Lindsay Stalzer, Ariel Usher set to join Foton training for Asian club tilt right after PSL All Filipino". Spin.ph. August 3, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
12. "Forza Foton! International coach Fabio Menta joins Team Foton Pilipinas". The Philippine Star. August 24, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
13. Lozada, Mei-Lin (September 11, 2016). "Foton Pilipinas ends Asian stint with three-set win over Taipei in battle for seventh place". Sports Interactive Network Philippines . Retrieved September 11, 2016.
14. "Is Foton still going to Kazakhstan?". Volleyverse. May 8, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
15. "PSL stars set to take Asia by storm". Volleyverse. May 9, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
16. JP, Abcede (December 1, 2014). "Foton Cops Fifth After Out Playing Mane 'n Tail". website. Philippine Super Liga. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
17. "Stalzer, Messing lead from front as Foton beats Petron for maiden Super Liga title". by Mei-Lin Lozada (spin.ph) December 5, 2015, 03:16 pm
18. Reyes, Marc Anthony (September 26, 2016). "Serbian replaces Fabio Menta as Foton PH coach". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
19. Flores, Migs (December 28, 2017). "Coaching carousel lands Moro Branislav in Cocolife, Rommel Abella in Foton". tiebreakertimes.com.ph. Retrieved December 31, 2017.