Champions League to gather PH volleyball’s best next year

To bring out the best of local volleyball, the Philippine Superliga plans to stage a PSL Champions League that will pit the reigning titlists of the PSL, Shakeys V-League, UAAP and NCAA.

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said they have initiated moves to stage the short tournament among the champions of the country’s biggest leagues on Aug. 15 to 22.

This early, at least two Southeast Asian teams have also been invited to join the tournament.

The PSL will also unveil beach volleyball leagues on May 21 to 24 and Sept. 24 to 27. The beach volleyball games will be held in the evening at Bonifacio Global City.

Suzara bared the plans during Tuesday night’s PSL thanksgiving dinner also attended by PSL chair Philip Juico, who lauded the two-year-old league’s robust growth.

“The important thing now is to make our league viable and ensure it goes on for a long time for all the stakeholders,” said Juico, who is also the president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

Suzara, who is marketing and development committee officer of both the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Asian Volleyball Confederation, also said they will start the 2015 season with the All-Filipino Conference on March 7 to April 26.

The event will be preceded by a Draftee Profiling in January to determine the top volleyball graduates from the top schools.