Former star volleybelles hail PSL tilt

MORE than just reliving their glory days, the veterans of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) believe they have more to show when the volleyball club tournament unfolds tomorrow at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

“It’s good to have this league because most of us still want to play even after college,” said Stephanie Mercado, the former La Salle standout who will see action for PCSO Bingo Milyonaryo.

The PSL will pit six women teams featuring former varsity stars.

“They’ve given their best during their college years, but they have more to give so let’s give them this chance and this platform,” PSL commissioner Ian Laurel said yesterday at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

League officials said the PSL has bigger plans in the works, such as tapping foreigners as guest players in the next conference and inviting foreign teams.

“By bringing foreigners, we can gauge where Philippine volleyball is now,” said PSL CEO and president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Shanrit Wongprasert, the Thai executive vice president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation for the Southeast Asian Zone, will grace the 1 p.m. opening ceremony.

“We will work together in the promotion of volleyball,” said Shanrit. “Many players in Southeast Asia, they play in professional leagues with quite good income. I expect that in the very near future, many players from the Philippines will also play in other countries.”

The PSL was officially launched in a party hosted by Solar Sports where the players also headlined a fashion show on Thursday night at Seventh High in Bonifacio Global City.

Cignal will clash at Petron Blaze in the 2 p.m. first game tomorrow, followed by the PLDT MyDSL-PCSO Bingo Milyonaryo duel at 4 p.m. and the TMS-Philippine Army-Cagayan Valley 6 p.m. match.