ECOOIL-La Salle and Fudgee Barr-Ateneo seek to make up for their absence in the Open Conference with a strong showing in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational, facing separate rivals in the season-ending conference beginning today, Friday, at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Noel Kampton and JM Ronquillo are expected to carry the scoring load for the fancied Green Spikers as they launch their campaign in Pool B against the VNS Griffins in the 3 p.m. opener of a twin-bill that also pits the Blue Eagles against the Don Pacundo-La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots at 5 o-clock in a Pool A clash.
The Griffins, fifth placers in the Open ruled by the Cignal HD Spikers via sweep, will be led by reigning NCAA Best Outside Spiker Barbie San Andres and national team mainstay Jayvee Sumagaysay.
EcoOil-La Salle and Fudgee Barr-Ateneo missed the Open due to their UAAP commitments but are eager and ready to take on the best in the record-matching 24-team cast divided into four groups.
Ateneo-Fudgee Barr will pin its hopes on the hard-hitting combo of Kennedy Batas and Matthew Salarzon, along with defensive ace Lance De Castro, while the Patriots will be bannered by playmakers Christian Hidalgo and Donald Brimon.
Focus will be on the HD Spikers, who lead the Pool C cast that includes Davies Paints-Adamson, Philippine Coast Guard, Saints and Lattes-Letran, Santa Rosa City Lions and the St. Gerard Construction-Saint Benide.
Other teams in Pool A are D’Navigators Iloilo, Kinto-Perpetual Help, Philippine Army and Sta. Elena-National U, while Cabstars-City of Cabuyao, MKA-San Beda, Philippine Air Force, Saskin-Philippine Christian U join EcoOil and VNS in Pool B.
Play will be a single-round robin eliminations with the top two in each pool advancing to the knockout quarterfinals.
To spice up the title chase, the organizing Sports Vision said a foreign guest squad will join the semifinalists in a round-robin series with the top two disputing the championship in a winner-take-all match.
