ATENEO de Manila and College of Saint Benilde headline their respective groups in the forthcoming Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference, which fires off on July 30.
The Lady Eagles, who finished as bridesmaids last University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season, will finally return to action in Group A together with the defending collegiate conference champion National University, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) first runner-up San Sebastian College and semifinalist University of Perpetual Help, as well as Technological Institute of the Philippines from Naascu.
The three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Alyssa Valdez will still suit up for Ateneo as a regular player since it’s just her fifth year in the collegiate conference.
The reigning NCAA champions Lady Blazers, on the other hand, lead Group B that also included San Beda College, UAAP season 78 semifinalists Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of the Philippines (UP), as well as sixth-placer University of Santo Tomas (UST).
“Of course, I’m so excited,” V-League Commissioner Tony Boy Liao told the BusinessMirror. “The 10-team cast is almost all evenly balanced and this, for sure, will be a good chance for them to prepare for their upcoming tournaments where they are to participate.”
After a single round robin in each group, the top 3 will advance to the quarterfinals, where the six teams will clash for another round robin.
However, teams that have already faced each other during the group stages will no longer have to face one another.
The top 4 teams with the best win-loss records will barge into the crossover best-of-three semifinals.