Wide-open battle seen in Spikers’ Turf

Though Instituto Estetico Manila and Cagayan Valley boast of formidable rosters, the six other teams vying in the Spikers’ Turf are also teeming with talents, guaranteeing a spirited battle for the inaugural crown when the event is fired off Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.

In fact, PLDT Home Ultera and Army loom as the early title contenders with the former parading Howard Mojica, who powered Emilio Aguinaldo College to its first-ever NCAA crown, and St. Benilde’s top hitter John Vic De Guzman and the latter out to duplicate its counterpart’s domination in the Shakey’s V-League behind Greg Dolor, Patrick Rojas, Antonio Torres, and Jaidal Abdulmajid.

Cavite, Philippine Air Force, Champion Infinity and Cignal are also coming into the event with souped-up rosters, ensuring a slam-bang action all through the two-month long league presented by PLDT Home Ultera and backed by Mikasa.

Cagayan Valley, led by Ateneo’s Marck Jesus Espejo and Rex Emmanuel Intal and National U’s Peter Torres tests Cignal’s mettle in the lone game on Sunday starting at 9 a.m.

Cignal will be spearheaded by Reyson Fuentes, member of the UAAP champion National U, along with Alexis Faytaren, Sandy Montero, Jay dela Cruz and Lorenzo Capate Jr.

The Cavite Patriots Fourbees, meanwhile, will be led by Perpetual Help’s Warren Catipay, Jack Kalingking, Neil Ytorzaita and Allan Jay Salaan; Air Force will be headed by Jeff Malabanan, Clarence Esteban and Dante Alinsunurin and Jukran Hamdan; and Champion Infinity, formerly Systema, will be backstopped by Chris Macasaet, Chris Antonio, Syl Honrade and actor Richard Gomez

Format is a single round with the top four teams advancing to the semifinal round, another single round-robin stage with the top two clashing for the crown in a best- of-three series, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Games are set Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting at 9 a.m. to be telecast on a delayed basis on the same night of each playdate over PTV-4.