IT may be missing the appeal of a collegiate event but competition is expected to remain fever-pitch as the Shakey’s V-League unwraps its Open Conference on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Exciting games are expected with the entry of three teams from the Armed Forces and one commercial club after two more collegiate squads decided not to see action.
University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle, which had skipped the previous tournament, were followed recently by two other top squads—Adamson and Far Eastern University.
That left two-time champion Ateneo, San Sebastian College and University of Perpetual Help as the only college squads in the seven-team tournament.
With some school teams opting to give their players time to concentrate on their studies because of the collegiate season, the organizing Sports Vision added the Navy, Army and Air Force and the Maynilad Water Dragons to the lineup.
“I was really disheartened when the school teams begged off this time but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us because we have teams that are also very competitive,” said Sports Vision’s Moying Martelino during the press launch of the Open Conference on Thursday at the Manila Yacht Club.
“All the best volleyball players are here and we’re all excited for the coming Open Conference of the V-League,” he added.
Martelino said that two years ago, Sports Vision tried the V-League to become a commercial tournament but the lack of commercial teams stymied the project.
To level the playing field, tournament director Tonyboy Liao said the three school teams are allowed to tap nonstudents or two foreign players as reinforcements.
“It is common knowledge that the military and Maynilad teams are stronger than the school teams. So to balance the competition, Ateneo, San Sebastian and Perpetual are not only allowed to recruit nonstudent players but also two foreign players to beef up their respective lineups,” said Martelino.
Former Most Valuable Players Nene Bautista, Suzanne Roces, Aiza Maizo and Rose Macatangay and other league stars Rachel Daquis, Joy Cases, Giza Yumang, Jen Manzano, Michelle Carolino and Charise Ancheta are playing for different teams.
“This is some kind of a pilot project. If this becomes successful, we will be then holding the Open tournament right after the regular [school] conference each year,” said Martelino.
Bautista and Roces are suiting up for the Navy, Macatangay and Maizo for the Air Force and Daquis and Maiah Manukay for the Army.
The bottom team after the first round will be eliminated.
The top four teams after another round robin advance to the semifinals.
San Sebastian and Air Force face off in the opener at 2 p.m., while Ateneo starts its campaign against Maynilad at 4 p.m.
The games will be telecast live on NBN 4. GMA Pinoy TV is the league’s partner for its international broadcast.
