Shakey’s Girls Volley eyes more foreign teams

MANILA, Philippines - Organizers of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League (SGVL) hope to make the meet an annual event featuring more foreign teams especially after earning a solid reputation as the premiere tournament among high school players nationwide.

Two guest squads in Australia’s State of Victoria and the National Youth girls team of New Zealand took part in the just-concluded SGVL Season 11 Tournament of Champions at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with the Kiwis placing third in the week-long event topped by the National Capital Region, represented by Hope Christian High School and Angelicum, for the third time.

Metro Sports, which organizes the league sponsored by Shakey’s, hints at inviting a third foreign team in the next SGVL season.

“It is our vision to make this a yearly affair with more foreign teams competing,” said Metro Sports president Freddie Infante.

Playing to their true potential, the Big City spikers dominated the two-group single round elims, outdueling Western Visayas, represented by Central Philippine University, for the Pool A pennant before stamping their class over the Kiwis in the crossover semis of the event backed by Mikasa, Asics, Tune Hotel, Solar Sports, Burlington, BioFresh, Food Health, YSA Botanica and Science Magazine.

Central Visayas, made up of University of San Jose-Recoletos players, matched NCR’s sweep in Pool B then bested Western Visayas in the Final Four to re-arrange a title showdown with NCR.

Mentored by Jerry Yee, the NCR side took the first two sets in impressive fashion but dropped the next then repulsed Central Visayas’ repeated comebacks in the fourth to complete a 25-18, 25-18, 18-25, 25-22 victory. NCR also won over Central Visayas, then represented by Southwestern U, last year.

New Zealand, on the other hand, recovered from a shaky start to prevail over Western Visayas, 18-25, 26-24, 25-16, for third place honors. The Kiwis, along with the Aussies, vowed to return. a stronger, fiercer team in the next SGVL staging.