Spikers’ Turf gets underway

Games today: (Paco Arena) 4 p.m. — Imus vs Santa Rosa 6 p.m. — PGJC-Navy vs Army

Santa Rosa tests Imus while Navy collides with Army at the start of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila Sunday.

The Laguna-based Lions, who showed a lot of promise in their league debut last year, are going into the match with new acquisitions Uriel Mendoza and Kevin Montemayor.

“We played with an under-17 team the first time out. But now, we have new players,” said Lions assistant coach Carlos Cantor, who steered his team to fifth last year. “Now, we aim to make it to the Top 4.”

But the Imus AJAA Spikers, handled by veteran coach Sammy Acaylar, boast Perpetual Help aces Louie Ramirez and Hero Austria, two-time league best setter Ish Polvorosa, four-time best libero Ricky Marcos, and many-time best middle blocker winners Anjo Pertierra, Kim Malabunga and Francis Saura.

The Santa Rosa-Navy match is set at 4 p.m. preceding the 6 p.m. face-off between the Sealions and the Army Troopers.

Eleven teams play a single round robin elimination with the top four advancing to the semis, another round robin phase. The top two will dispute the crown.

Games are telecast live on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play and SMART Live Stream.

While Navy posted a decent showing the last time out, only skipper Greg Dolor, Christian Marcelino, Jemmy Entig and Marvin Hairami are staying put for the Sealions, who, however, have tapped former Cignal playmaker Owen Suarez, who swapped places with EJ Casaña.

In contrast, Army has kept its core, led PJ Rojas, Kenneth Bayking, Antonio Torres, Kevin Liberato, Jaidal Abdulmajid and Benjaylo Labide.

Other teams competing are Cignal, Cotabato, Iloilo, Vanguard and VNS Volley Club.

NU, which will also parade a practically new, young squad, opens its title-retention drive on Wednesday against Vanguard at 6 p.m. while Air Force faces a debuting Iloilo squad at 4 p.m.