Ateneo opens Shakey’s title bid against UST

The format that made the Shakey’s V-League a huge hit returns on Saturday when 12 teams compete in the Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

A tripleheader will usher in the varsity action with UAAP champion Ateneo, led by Alyssa Valdez, facing University of Santo Tomas in the first game at 12:45 p.m. This will be followed by matches pitting Far Eastern University against University of Batangas and San Sebastian taking on College of St. Benilde.

The league’s organizer Sports Vision is holding its signature collegiate tournament after club teams participated in the last three conferences.

Other teams seeing action are NCAA titleholder Arellano, National University, University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Technological Institute of the Philippines and La Salle-Dasmarinas.

Twelve teams are also joining the Collegiate Conference of the Spikers’ Turf, the men’s counterpart of the VLeague.

Joining in the Spikers’ Turf which starts on Monday are UAAP champion Ateneo, FEU, NU, UB, UP, PUP, CSB, DLSU-Dasmarinas, San Sebastian, TIP and UST.

“It’s a pleasant surprise that there are now total of 12 school teams participating in each league that is one development,” Sports Vision Chairman Moying Martelino said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

V-League games are held every Saturdays and Sundays while Spikers’ Turf matches are every Mondays and Wednesdays.

Sports Vision officials are banking on the success of the Open Conference last May where PLDT beat Army in a thrilling title series witnessed by a huge crowd at the San Juan venue.