W. Visayas, NCR head Shakey’s Girls’ VL finals cast

Western Visayas and National Capital Region kick off their respective drive in the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 national finals Monday at Cuneta Astrodome. Western Visayas battles Northern Luzon in Pool A in the 6 p.m. match, capping an explosive triple-bill in the event which gathers the top eight teams after the regional finals of the annual event put up by Shakey’s. NCR, on the other hand, clashes with Northern Mindanao at 5 p.m. in Pool B action after the Southern Luzon-Central Visayas, also in Pool B, match at 4 p.m. Western Visayas, then represented by St. John’s Institute, stunned NCR to snatch last year’s League of Champions crown. With members of the Central Philippine University leading this year’s squad, Western Visayas hopes to make it back-to-back in the event long considered as the spawning ground of volley talents in the country. But NCR is out to redeem itself with National U’s aces, led by MVP Faith Nisperos, Joy Doromal, Jasmine Nabor and top setter Joyme Cagande, leading the Big City bets’ campaign in the league that has produced the likes of Jaja Santiago, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Daquis and Alyssa Valdez. Other teams in Pool A are Southern Mindanao, represented by the core of the Davao City National High, and Eastern Visayas, powered by the Leyte National High.  Northern Luzon will be led by the Angeles University Foundation aces. Southern Luzon will be spearheaded by  De La Salle-Lipa, while Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao will be headed by mainstays of the University of San Jose-Recoletos and Angelicum Learning Center, respectively.