FILE–NU Lady Bulldogs coach Sherwin Meneses. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Far Eastern University (FEU)and San Sebastian College-Recoletos may seize the spotlight momentarily in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Preseason Championship when they kick off hostilities on opening day.
But make no doubt about it, all eyes will be on National University (NU) and new coach Sherwin Meneses.
“We’re really grateful that coach Sherwin accepted the offer and went to the NU family because his level of experience is different,” NU team manager Gelina Luceño said in Filipino. “He’s been handling a champion team in the PVL and his experience and knowledge will help our players improve for our league.”
Meneses, who won PVL seven titles with Creamline, is set to make his return to the collegiate ranks via the preseason tournament, where NU is gunning for a ‘three-peat.’
Meneses replaced Norman Miguel and already made his debut for the Lady Bulldogs in the ongoing 2024 AVC Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Meneses will have a load of talent at his disposal, especially with MVPs Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon sticking around for one more year to lead a UAAP champion squad that also features seniors Sheena Toring, Erin Pangilinan, and Lams Lamina and rising stars Vange Alinsug, Arah Panique, and Abe Pono.
NU opens its campaign on Oct. 4 against Ateneo in Pool A, where it will also face Arellano University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and San Beda University.
The preseason tournament kicks off on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Complete cast
For the first time since 2022, the cast of 18 teams from the UAAP and NCAA are complete as University of the Philippines and De La Salle University returned after taking a leave of absence last year.
The league will continue to implement the all-to-play format, requiring the teams to field all the players from their roster with a different set of starters in the first two sets. SSL also allowed the schools to tap senior high school players this year.
The opening ceremony is set for Saturday but FEU and San Sebastian will raise the curtains at 3:30 p.m. in a Pool D clash.
Pool D is also composed of NCAA champion Saint Benilde and Adamson, the UAAP powerhouse that will be led by SSL Girls Volleyball Invitational League MVP Shai Nitura.
Meanwhile, the University of the East and Lyceum face off at 6 p.m. in Pool B.
Also in Pool B are last year’s SSL runner-up and UAAP silver medalist University of Santo Tomas, Mapua and Perpetual Help.