INSTITUTO Estetico Manila, which ruled the inaugural Shakey’s V-League men’s tournament last year, braces for a tougher challenge from a deeper field when the first Spikers’ Turf starts April 5 at Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Volley Masters pulled through against the Systema Active Smashers in the decider of a sudden death to top the four-team Shakey’s field but will be hard-pressed to duplicate the feat with seven other squads joining the upcoming men’s league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.
In fact, Renz Ordonez, Rudy Gatdula and Eden Canlas have moved to their mother team Cagayan Valley, leaving IEM without three of its former stalwarts. But head coach Ernesto Balubar remains upbeat of their chances as he pins his hopes on Jason Canlas, Karl Ian dela Calzada, Jeffrey Jimenez, Carlo Almario and Michael Conde.
Aside from IEM and Cagayan Valley, the Spikers’ Turf, organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa as the official ball and PTV 4, the official television station, also lured Cignal, Fourbees, Air Force, Army, Ultera and Champion Infinity, formerly Systema.
Format is a single round with the top four teams advancing to the semifinal round, another single round-robin stage with the top two clashing for the crown.
Games are set Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting at 9 a.m. to be telecast on a delayed basis on the same night of each play date over PTV 4.
Howard Mojica, who powered Emilio Aguinaldo College to its first-ever NCAA crown, will lead the Ultera team which also includes St. Benilde’s top hitter John Vic De Guzman, while Army hopes to extend its domination in the V-League to the Spikers’ Turf.
Cignal will be spearheaded by Reyson Fuentes, member of the UAAP champion National U, Fourbees will be led by Perpetual Help’s Warren Catipay, Air Force will be headed by Jeff Malabanan, and Champion Infinity will be backstopped by Chris Macasaet.