MANILA, Philippines - The entry of fresh faces will all the more make the upcoming Shakey’s V-League doubly exciting with new challenges facing the eight participating schools when the second conference of Season 7 gets under way tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan.
San Sebastian-Excelroof, Ateneo, Lyceum, Far Eastern U and Adamson have been installed as the early favorites, their past records and current rosters enough to speak for their respective chances. But the rest, including St. Benilde and newcomers Perpetual Help and National University, are raring to spring a surprise and shake the form charts in their own quest for volley glory.
“Not only will this new batch of players make the games unpredictable and more exciting, but their presence is also expected to generate interest from the fans,” said Moying Martelino, chairman of the organizing Sports Vision Management Group Inc.
As it is, the league has blossomed into a certified crowd drawer through the years with fans coming in droves, particularly during the Final Four all the way to the finals, underscoring the popularity of the sport.
In fact, UST’s withdrawal paved the way for the entry of NU and Perpetual with a couple more schools signifying their intention to join the league in the future.
Although UST dominated the last three conferences of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza, the Tigresses kept their winning streak the hard way, including a come-from-behind victory over the San Sebastian Lady Stags in the first conference.
According to Martelino, the Tigresses’ decision to sit out the season-ending conference only levels the playing field with no team holding a distinct advantage over the other.