MANILA, Philippines - National U and Hope Christian High School kick off their respective bids, along with eight other schools, in what promises to be a slam-bang Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 National Capital Region leg qualifiers firing off today at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Lady Bullpups clash with the Kings’ Montessori School squad at 4 p.m. after the 3 p.m. duel between Academy of God’s Children and Escuela De Sophia of Caloocan while the Hope CHS tossers battle the Adamson U side in the 5 p.m. main dish.
The week-long tournament, featuring the country’s top high school volley teams that has produced the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Ara Galang, Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, Aby Maraño, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jaja Santiago and Ennajie Laure, is sponsored by Shakey’s for the 13th year and organized by Metro Sports headed by Freddie Infante.
The 10-team field is divided into two groups. NU heads Pool A, which includes De La Salle-Zobel, University of the East, MGC New Life Christian Academy and Kings’ Montessori. Hope CHS is grouped with University of Santo Tomas, Escuela De Sophia, Academy of God’s Children and Adamson in Pool B.
The top four teams from each side after the single round robin elims clash in the crossover semis with the winners disputing the crown and the lone berth in the grand finals along with the other winners of the eight other regional legs.
Gracing the 2 p.m. opening rites are members of the La Salle women’s volley team along with Shakey’s and Metro Sports officials.
Central Philippine University, the alma mater of Shakey’s V-League star and MVP Jovelyn Gonzaga, and University of San Jose-Recoletos took the first two spots in the grand finals after topping the Western Visayas and Central Visayas legs, respectively.
Meanwhile, Northern Mindanao will host the next stop on Aug. 28-31 in Cagayan de Oro City; followed by Eastern Visayas on Sept. 3-6 in Tacloban; Northern Luzon on Sept. 8-11 in Angeles; Southern Mindanao on Sept. 14-18 in Tagum City; and Southern Luzon on Sept. 23-26 in Biñan City.
The regional winners, plus a team from the host city (Biñan) will clash for the championship in the national finals and the lone berth in the first-ever Shakey’s GVL International Championship which will feature five foreign teams, according to Metro Sports’ and tournament director Johanz Buenvenida.
For details, visit www.facebook.com/shakeysgirlsvleague.