MANILA, Philippines - The V-League Southeast Asian Club Invitational fires off Oct. 27 at The Arena in San Juan with Vietnam and Malaysia confirming their participation in the four-team tournament that also features top local teams Philippine Army and Ateneo.
Backed by two Russian hitters, Vietnam looms as the early top favorite although Army, coming off an impressive title romp in the recent Shakey’s V-League Open, is out to prove its worth in the four-day championship sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza in its continuing effort to develop the sport and provide local fans top-notch volley action.
“This tournament will somehow gauge the progress of Phl women’s volley which we’ve been helping to develop through the staging of the Shakey’s V-League,” said Moying Martelino of the organizing Sports Vision.
The four-day event, backed by Mikasa (official volleyball) and Accel (official outfitter), guarantees action-packed games with Vietnam, silver medalist in the last five staging of the SEA Games, and Malaysia battling it out with this year’s winners of the Shakey’s V-League Season 8.
Vietnam will be represented by the Vietsovpetro squad which boasts of a pair of Russian six-footers Trernai Anactaxi and Martynova Ekoterina while Malaysia will be bannered by the core of the team competing in next month’s SEA Games in Indonesia.
Sisters Michelle and Marietta Carolino, Mary Jean Balse, Joanne Buñag, Cristina Salak, Theresa Iratay, Jen Reyes and Rachel Ann Daquis are expected to lead the Troopers’ title drive in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
On the other hand, the Lady Eagles hope to spring a surprise or two and contend for the crown on a team built around Alyssa Valdez, Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho, Aerieal Patnongon and Denise Lazaro.
Play will be a round-robin affair with the top two clashing for the championship and the two others battling for third place honors.
Two matches will be played each day starting at 2 p.m. with the second game set at 4 p.m.
All matches will be telecast on NBN 4 on a delayed basis with the first game to be shown in the night of the same day and the other to be aired the following day starting at 2 p.m.
Matches can also be viewed via live streaming at www.v-league.ph.