The Foton Tornadoes was a women's volleyball team owned by United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (UAAGI). 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 into what became the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, which moved to the Premier Volleyball League in 2021.
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.
The original Foton team would be renamed as the Chery Tiggo Crossovers heading the 2020 season. Chery joined the professional PVL in 2021.
In June 2023, the revival of the Foton Tornadoes team was announced. They played with Chery at the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference At least seven Chery players moved to Foton. They have pledged to participate in the PVL for at least the next three years.
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.
International tournaments
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. The team was reinforced by three selected players from other PSL teams as well as imports Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher. Italian coach and FIVB volleyball instructor Fabio Menta was named as head coach of the squad. The team finished in 7th place overall after the 9-day competition.
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. In its place, the Philippines was represented by the PSL all-star selection (playing as "Rebisco-PSL Manila").
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
Foton TornadoesNumberPlayerPositionHeightBirth dateSchool Carlota Hernandez Outside Hitter FEU Jasmine NaborSetterNU Bernadette Flora Outside Hitter ADU Jaila AtienzaMiddle blocker UP Seth Marione RodriguezMiddle blockerUE May LunaOutside hitterDLSU Mary Antonette LandichoLibero NU Nerissa BautistaOpposite Hitter CPU France RonquilloOpposite hitter NU Sydney Mae NiegosMiddle Blocker JRU Mary Rhose DapolOutside Hitter UPHSD Babylove BarbonLibero UST Ma. Shaya Adorador (C)Outside hitterUE Maria Regina Agatha MangulabnanSetter UST
Coaching staff Head coach: Brian Esquibel Assistant coaches: Yani FernandezRobertly 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 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 Champions by Mei-Lin Lozada (spin.ph) December 5, 2015, 03:16 pm 2016 Invitational 5th (1–4, 3 pts) Did not qualify 6th place All-Filipino 4th (4–3, 12 pts) 1st (3–0, 8 pts) Lost in championship vs. F2 Logistics, 1–2 Runner-up Grand Prix 1st (9–1, 25 pts) Won in championship vs. Petron, 2–0 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) 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 Won in third place match vs. Cocolife, 3–1 3rd place Invitational 4th (1–3, 4 pts) 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 7th place All-Filipino 3rd (8–6, 25 pts) Lost in semifinals vs. F2 Logistics, 1–3 Lost in third place match vs. Petron, 2–3 4th place Invitational 2nd (2–1, 6 pts) Lost in semifinals vs. Petron, 0–3 Lost in third place match vs. Cignal, 0–3 4th place colspan=7 PVL 2023 Invitational 5th (1–4, 2 pts) Did not qualify Won in 11th place match vs. Gerflor, 3–1 11th place
Notes
Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship Year Preliminary round Final round Ranking Source 2016 2nd (1–1, 4 pts) 4th (0–3, 1 pt) Lost in quarterfinals vs. Bayi Shenzhen, 0–3 7th place
Individual awards Season Conference Award Name2015 All-Filipino 2nd Best Outside Spiker Patty Jane Orendain Grand Prix 2nd Best Middle Blocker Jaja Santiago 1st Best Setter Ivy Jizel Perez Most Valuable Player Lindsay Stalzer2016 All-Filipino 2nd Best Middle Blocker Jaja SantiagoGrand Prix 2nd Best Outside Spiker Ariel Usher 2nd Best Middle Blocker Maika Ortiz Most Valuable Player Jaja Santiago2017 Invitational Best Opposite Spiker Mary Grace BerteAll-Filipino 1st Best Outside Spiker Ennajie Laure Best Opposite Spiker Jaja Santiago Grand Prix 1st Best Opposite Spiker Jaja Santiago2018Grand Prix 1st Best Opposite Spiker Elizabeth Ann Wendel 2nd Best Libero Katarina Vukomanović2019All-Filipino 1st Best Middle Blocker Jaja Santiago Best Opposite Spiker Dindin Santiago-ManabatInvitational 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) Dindin Santiago-Manabat (2017, 2018) Jaja 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 (2016–2017) Rommel Abella (2018; PSL Grand Prix) Edjet Mabbayad (2018; PSL Invitational) Aaron Vélez (2018–2019) Brian Esquibel (2023)
Notes
References