La Salle. INQUIRER File Photo
La Salle is making its much awaited return to the Shakey’s V-League after an eight-year absence.
The Lady Spikers are set to rejoin the Collegiate Conference slated to begin on July 4, leading the 12 teams that will see action until October.
Aside from La Salle, the other teams participating are Season 11 champs Far Eastern University, runner-up National U, Ateneo, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Arellano, San Sebastian, St. Benilde, La Salle-Dasmariñas, National College of Business and Arts, and a team from Batangas still yet to be named.
But the focus will be on La Salle, which will try to reclaim its throne in the V-League after last seeing action in the second conference of the fourth season where it finished as a semifinalist.
The Lady Spikers have won three titles in the past, and their return to the V-League will definitely renew their rivalry with old foes Ateneo and UST.
“La Salle said that they will participate,” said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou at the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate. “We’re very confident that the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference will be as successful as the Open Conference.”
The tournament will be a single round-robin elimination with the top four advancing to the semifinals.
“There were a lot of teams that showed interest but we could only entertain 12 teams in each of the men’s and women’s divisions. That one round, we’ve talked about that before but we’re giving the players the exposure they need.”
Following the success of the men’s division, Spiker’s Turf will also unfold its collegiate conference, featuring UAAP champion Ateneo, NU, La Salle, UST, Adamson, FEU, EAC, San Sebastian, Perpetual, La Salle – Dasmariñas, St. Benilde, and RTU.
Palou also announced that the matches will now be held on separate days, with the men’s games being played on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the women’s matches to be staged on weekends.
PTV-4 will continue showing the Spiker’s Turf matches on a delayed basis, while GMA News TV will broadcast the V-League games also on a delayed telecast, with one match being shown live on Saturdays and Sundays.
Martelino is elated with how far the sport has gone, saying, “Nung nagsimula ang Shakey’s V-League sa Lyceum Gym, masaya na kami pag may nanood na 100 na fans. Ngayon, ang haba na ng pila sa mga venues para lang makapanood ng laro.”
(When we started the Shakey’s V-League in Lyceum Gym, we’re already happy when 100 fans showed up. Now, there are just long lines outside of the venue wanting to watch the games.)
The former AVP official also hoped that the success of women’s volleyball will also rub off on the men’s division.
“We’re hoping that that will happen. We try to keep on exposing it, and hopefully, it will eventually be as popular as the women’s,” said Martelino. CC