Tough field in both Shakey’s V-League collegiate tourneys

ATENEO still faces a formidable field even with fierce rival La Salle out of the picture in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference that blasts off this Saturday.

A former tournament champion, La Salle initially looked poised for a comeback after a six-year absence in the premier women’s volleyball tournament that’s set to fire off with a record 12-team cast this time.

But the Lady Spikers—who also battled the Lady Eagles in the last four UAAP Finals—begged off due to a prior commitment to play in the Philippine National Games.

The La Salle men’s volleyball team, though, will see action in the Spikers’ Turf, which also features a competitive 12-team field starting July 13.

“We invited the top four to six teams in the [collegiate leagues],” said Ricky Palou, president of league organizer Sport Vision, who disputed reports that La Salle had been banned from the tournament.

“So long as La Salle is a top contender in the UAAP, it will be invited.”

Ateneo, bannered by volleyball star Alyssa Valdez, clashes with University of Santo Tomas in Group B action in the 12:45 p.m. opener this Saturday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Far Eastern University and University of Batangas tangle in Group A at 3 p.m., followed by the San Sebastian and St. Benilde Group B duel at 5 p.m.

Rounding out the contenders are Group A squads National University, Arellano, UP and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Group B teams La Salle-Dasmariñas and Technological Institute of the Philippines.

In the Spikers’ Turf, NCAA champion Emilio Aguinaldo College headlines Group A’s FEU, Mapua, National College of Business and Arts, NU and University of the East, while UAAP titlist Ateneo leads Group B’s La Salle, Arellano, St. Benilde, UP and La Salle-Dasmariñas.

“To our pleasant surprise, a lot of teams are now participating in both leagues,” said Sports Vision chair Moying Martelino during the PSA Forum yesterday at Shakey’s Malate.

“It’s going to be exciting because the collegiate teams are reinforced,” commissioner Tony Boy Liao said of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.