Spikers’ Turf shoulders major role after Alas Pilipinas breakthrough

Spikers’ Turf players, coaches and officials during a press conference ahead of the Invitational Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–The Spikers’ Turf tournament, long existing in the shadows of its women’s counterpart, now has a lot riding on its shoulders.

And it will need the support of the same fans that backed Alas Pilipinas in the recent FIVB Men’s World Championship if it wants to build on the national squad’s momentum.

READ: Marck Espejo, Alas Pilipinas aiming high at SEA Games

Marck Espejo, with renewed fire, expects a bigger and brighter future for the men’s volleyball program. #SpikersTurf @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/LwN6i8JvyS

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 20, 2025

Spikers’ Turf returns on Monday with the Invitational Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, aiming to ride the wave of national pride stirred by Alas Pilipinas’ breakout performance in the Manila-hosted world meet. The team finished 19th out of 32 nations and notched a historic win over Egypt—a result that captivated fans and reignited interest in men’s volleyball.

“We really want this momentum to carry over,” said league president Alyssa Valdez at the launch in Ortigas. “I’m super excited to see more talent emerge from Spikers’ Turf and maybe even future national team players.”

This conference features 10 teams, including collegiate squads from Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas, plus guest teams from Japan (Kindai University) and Australia (ProVolley Academy). Powerhouses Cignal and Criss Cross, finalists in the last three conferences, are expected to lead the title chase once again.

After a single round-robin elimination, the top four local teams will advance to the semifinals where they will be joined by the international squads. The top two from that round will contest the winner-take-all final.

While showcasing local talent remains a core goal, the league has also made room to support the national team’s Southeast Asian Games buildup. Teams with players in the national pool—including Cignal’s Owa Retamar and Louie Ramirez, and Criss Cross’ Marck Espejo—have agreed to release them for training as early as mid-November.

READ: Alas Pilipinas loss not enough to shade rise of PH men’s volleyball

“We’re fully supporting the national team,” said tournament director Mozzy Ravena. “We’ve spoken to the clubs, and they understand the importance. They can bring in replacements to fill the gaps.”

The ultimate dream, Ravena said, is for each club team to have a national player—a reflection of just how much Spikers’ Turf now matters to the national program.

And no one understands that pressure more than Espejo, a linchpin of both Criss Cross and Alas Pilipinas.

“Whatever I can give before I leave for national duty, I’ll give,” he said. “We’ve been silver medalists too many times. We’re hungry for gold.”

With the men’s game finally breaking through the mainstream, Spikers’ Turf sees this as its defining moment—a chance to prove it’s more than just a feeder league, but a foundation of the sport’s future.

“I hope fans keep supporting,” Ravena said. “Because who knows? The next Marck Espejo might be playing in this tournament right now.”