Record 44 squads vie in Shakey’s Rising Stars Cup

MANILA, Philippines — This is the biggest field of play thus far for the Shakey’s Super League.

A total of 44 will duke it out in the fourth edition of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup.

Last year, there were 30 teams that played in the high school girls’ volleyball tournament.

But this time, 20 schools will compete in Division 1, while the Division 2 crown will be sought by 24 teams.

“We’re continuing with having two divisions in the SGVIL. Since the establishment of the second division last year, more schools have approached us and expressed interest in joining the league. In fact, the teams have grown in number, record numbers,” said Ian Laurel, president of the league organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc. (ACES). 

“So, the interest at the high school level in joining the Shakey's GVIL has exponentially grown, and it is an honor for us, a pleasure for us to be able to host them again this year,” he added.

Defending champion National University-Nazareth School banners the competitive 20-school Division 1, while Domuschola International School will have its hands full in trying to repeat as Division 2 titlist in a 24-entry field that includes guest team New Zealand-based Diverse Auckland Cubs.

There will be four pools of five squads each in Division 1, while six teams in four pools will play in Division 2. 

The Lady Bullpups, who beat Bacolod Tay Tung in a cardiac five-set finale last year, lead Pool A alongside King’s Montessori, inaugural champion California Academy, Lyceum of the Philippines Academy and Bethel Academy.

Three-time runner-up Bacolod Tay Tung is in Pool B with Canossa Academy, Holy Rosary College, University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta and Immaculate Conception College.

De La Salle-Lipa, Far Eastern University-Diliman, University of the Philippines Integrated School, San Felipe Neri Catholic School and St. John’s Institute composed Pool C while in Pool D are 2024 champion Adamson University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Chiang Kai Shek College, University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle Santiago-Zobel.

Domuschola International School, which overpowered Everest International Academy in straight sets in the finals last year, opted to stay in Division 2 for a back-to-back bid in the grassroots volleyball league.

Joining the Pasig-based squad in Pool E are Miriam College, Corpus Christi School, The Beacon Academy, MGC-New Life Christian Academy and San Beda University.

In Pool F are Everest International Academy, La Salle Green Hills, Diverse Auckland Cubs, Saint Pedro Poveda College, St. Theresa’s College-Quezon City, UST-B; together in Pool G are Immaculate Conception Academy-Greenhills, Assumption-Antipolo, NU-Nazareth School Team B, St. Jude Parish School, CCF-The Life Academy and PACE Academy.

Pool H is composed of St. Paul College-Pasig, La Salle Zobel-B, St. John Institute Team B, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu, Bacolod Tay Tung Team B and University of Batangas High School.

Laurel said that the champion and runner-up in Division 2 could be promoted in the Division 1 in the next season, but it will be optional as “their lineup gets depleted.”

“So if the coaches and the team that belong to Division 2, champions and runner-up, feel that they want to give it a try, we will allow them. But if they choose to stay in Division 2, for whatever circumstances are around that decision, we also honor that,” he said.

“So yes, it does have an aspirational aspect to it, but the reality of the situation would really depend on the coaches.”

The tournament will fire off on April 20 and will run about 11 days.