Iriga-Navy tests young BaliPure

Games today 10 a.m. – Air Force vs PLDT (men’s) 12 noon – IEM vs Army (men’s) 4 p.m. – Iriga-Navy vs BaliPure (women’s) 6:30 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs Tacloban (women’s)

BaliPure hopes to spring a surprise with its young, energetic crew as it kicks off its Premier Volleyball League campaign against Iriga-Navy even as Petro Gazz and Tacloban clash in a duel of opening day losers in the Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

Fielding in a practically new squad after its mainstays, including coach Roger Gorayeb, moved to PayMaya during the off-season, the Purest Water Defenders remain upbeat of their chances on a team built around the core of young guns and rising stars of four-peat UAAP girls volley champion National U.

Two-time UAAP MVP and two-time Finals MVP Faith Nisperos and three-time Best Setter Joyme Cagande will banner the team that ruled the PVL Open Conference last year. Backstopping the squad are UAAP Season 80 MVP Mhicaela Belen, libero Jennifer Nierva, towering Alyssa Solomon and Ivy Lacsina, and Princess Robles, who played for the Babes Castillo-mentored Lady Bulldogs that dominated the inaugural PVL Collegiate Conference last year.

A slew of NU seniors team members in Rica Diolan, libero Gayle Valdez, Rosleyn Doria, Roma Joy Doromal and Audrey Paran will provide the experience and poise for the squad reinforced by Alexis Mathews.