Rookies to the fore as Shakey’s V-League blasts off Sunday

MANILA, Philippines — The Shakey’s V-League expects more rookies to rise when the Season 11 Open Conference gets going this Sunday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Ateneo, the reigning UAAP women’s volleyball champion, gets to test promising finds Bea de Leon, Therese Gaston and Karen Derder against the Philippine National Police on opening day at 4 p.m.

National University, the losing finalist to Far Eastern University last conference, also vies for a strong start versus the University of the Philippines at 2 p.m.

“There are a lot of freshmen,” said tournament commissioner Tony Liao in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate. “These incoming players from UP, NU and Ateneo will provide a big surprise.”

Last conference, University of Santo Tomas paraded a rookie sensation in Ennajie Laure, the daughter of former basketball pro Eddie Laure, who went on to win the Best Scorer plum.

“I believe we can expect exciting competition,” said Moying Martelino, chair of league organizer Sports Vision.

“They will be the future stars of the league.” Rounding out the eight-team field are defending champion Cagayan, Philippine Army, PLDT Home Telpad and Philippine Air Force.

Sports Vision president Ricky Palou, who graced the weekly forum with Shakey’s brand manager Koi Castillo and PR for events and advocacy officer Jam Evaristo, said the league aims to continue promoting the sport by staging a men’s division soon. “We are seriously looking into that,” said Palou.