The Shakey’s V-League, the country’s pioneering amateur volleyball league, got a major boost after it landed a television deal with broadcasting giant ABS-CBN.
Moying Martelino, chairman of league organizer Sports Vision, made the formal announcement on Tuesday, as per ABS-CBN Sports.
“Nagkaroon na kami ng meeting with ABS-CBN and there has been an agreement and definitely ABS-CBN Sports will be covering the Shakey’s V-League,” said Martelino during the announcement at UCC Café in Capitol Commons, Pasig as posted on sports.abs-cbn.com.
The contract hasn’t been signed yet but Martelino assured both parties have come to an agreement.
“The contract will still have to be signed but we already had a handshake, nagkaayusan na kami that this will be aired by ABS-CBN Sports,” Martelino said.
“I’m very happy because the games will be carried live. It is really a big thing because people would want to watch the game live,” he added.
The contract signing will most likely happen on Thursday, according to Martelino.
Action in the 13th season of the V-League beginning with its Open Conference will be aired live over ABS-CBN Sports+Action Channel 23 and ABS-CBN Sports+Action HD Channel 166.
Game will be played thrice a week every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday.
The latest season unfolds this Saturday with National University facing one of three provincial teams in Laoag in the season-opener at 4:00 p.m. while University of the Philippines takes on Pocari Sweat at 6:30 p.m.
Other teams competing in a double-round eliminations are Bali Pure, Philippine Air Force, and provincial teams Iriga and Baguio.
Top four teams at the end of the elimination round move on in a best-of-three semifinals. The championship round is also a best-of-three.