Shakey's girls volley tiff draws 98 teams

MANILA, Philippines - Ninety-eight teams representing eight regions, including Northern Luzon and Davao, are slugging it out for top honors in the ninth season of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League, making it the biggest in scope and participation.

Pajo National High School fashioned out a 25-16, 25-10, 25-12 victory over Comprehensive National High School to top the regional finals in Cebu and clinch the first berth in the Shakey’s Tournament of Champions slated in March.

Imus Institute, University of Perpetual Help-Laguna, Holy Rosary College, Christian Values School and De La Salle Lipa lead the race in their respective divisions in the Southern Luzon leg.

Berths in the national championship, slated March 21-24 in Davao City, are up for grabs in the nationwide elims of the event backed by Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics, Philippine Volleyball Federation, Metro Sports and Volley Prep, according to Metro Sports tournament director coach Johanz Buenvenida.

“The bar has been raised to a highly competitive level wherein eight regional high school girls champion teams will dispute the national crown,” said Buenvenida

The Northern Luzon leg elims will start Jan. 14 at the University of Cordilleras in Baguio while Angeles University Foundation hosts the Central Luzon qualifiers, also on Jan. 14.

The Western Visayas regional leg starts on Jan. 21 in Iloilo and on Jan. 22 in Bacolod, the NCR elims will be held on Jan. 29 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig while hostilities in the Eastern Visayas and Davao regional legs start on Feb. 17.