MANILA, Philippines – Expected to be a title contender in the 2018 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Conference, the Foton Tornadoes have instead struggled out of the gates.

They were dismissed by fellow powerhouse F2 Logistics in straight sets last Saturday, then was stunned by the upstart Generika-Ayala Lifesavers in five sets on Tuesday afternoon. 

The loss to Generika was shocking as Foton had already built a 2-1 series lead, and was up, 9-5, in the deciding frame only to falter.

Their collapse was completed by a Jaja Santiago mishit that put Generika at match point, before veteran Bang Pineda fired the match-winner for the 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, 25-12, 15-13 triumph for the Lifesavers.

READ: Lifesavers down Tornadoes, HD Spikers win in debut

“’Yung dalawang pagkatalo namin, sobrang laking challenge,” Santiago, who had 28 points, admitted after their second straight setback. “Sabi nga namin, ito ‘yung pinakamahalagang game namin, against Generika, kasi alam naming mahihirapan din kami against Petron.”

“'Yun nga, dahil natalo kami, kailangan namin mag-step up sa lahat ng games namin as a team. Kailangan matuto kami as a team sa mga pagkatalo namin,” she added.

Foton’s early struggles are surprising, given the sheer talent of their line-up. Not only do they feature Santiago and her older sister, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, they also recruited former Ateneo de Manila University star Bea de Leon to create possibly the most formidable line-up in the tournament.

They also added former University of the East skipper Shaya Adorador and San Beda University’s Marie Jeziela and Maria Nieza Viray to ramp up their firepower even further.

But Santiago pointed out that with the infusion of new talent comes to need to create chemistry – and this does not come instantly.

“Kahit naman noong first game namin, ang kulang namin na nakikita ko is connection sa loob ng court. Marami ngang bago sa amin,” she noted.

“Kumbaga, sa loob ng court, alam mo na may katabi ka na alam mo kung ano 'yung kilos niya. Nagkakapaan pa eh. Mahahalata mo naman may mga alinlangan pa sa galaw,” she added.

Santiago said that the Tornadoes, as of now, are still looking to build a connection with each other inside the court.

“Hindi pa namin nahahanap 'yung koneksyon, 'yung bond na kailangan namin sa loob ng court. Outside naman maganda 'yung bonding. Hindi pa siguro alam ng bawat isa kung paano mai-apply 'yung sa loob ng court,” she said.

Thus, despite their brutal start to the conference, the Tornadoes see no reason to push the panic button. Coach Rommel Abella, for one, said they are lucky to have recruited such high quality players such as de Leon, and is confident that they can adjust to her presence soon enough.

“Unfair din naman kay Bea and sa rest of the team na pilitin namin na panandalian lang 'yung adjustment,” said Abella. “Period of adjustment pa rin kami pero since na andito na kami sa laban we’ll try to adjust on the fly na lang.”

Foton returns to action on July 3, when they play perennial contender Petron in Cadiz, Negros Occidental.

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