By Abby Toralba
DEFENDING champion National University leads a stacked cast competing in the second season of the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship set to start this weekend at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Bulldogs, who swept their way to the inaugural title last year, lead the 16-team squad featuring teams from the UAAP and NCAA preparing for coming collegiate volleyball season.
Season 1 MVP Alyssa Solomon and former UAAP Rookie-MVP Mhicaela Belen are expected to spearhead NU under the tutelage of returning mentor Norman Miguel.
NU is in Pool A with San Sebastian College, Jose Rizal U and the souped-up University of the East bannered by super rookie Casiey Dongallo, who won the MVP plum in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (GVIL) national high school tournament last summer.
Adamson, the runner-up in the SSL National Invitationals, is in group B with Arellano U, Lyceum, and San Beda U while NCAA champion College of St. Benilde, University of Santo Tomas, Letran and University of Perpetual Help make up Group C.
Completing the cast are Ateneo, under new coach Sergio Veloso; Far Eastern U, Mapua and Emilio Aguinaldo College in Pool D.
Reigning UAAP and SSL National Invitationals champion La Salle, which finished runner-up to NU last year in the pre-season, and University of the Philippines are out of the picture this time.
Games start this Saturday with a triple-header featuring Perpetual against UST, Adamson vs Lyceum and San Beda opposite Arellano after the opening ceremonies at 10 a.m.
The refurbished Rizal Memorial Coliseum, which served as the venue last year, will also host games, including the finals.
“It’s Year 2 for us in the SSL but we have been here for 13 straight years from 2005 to 2018, seeing the rise of women’s volleyball, particularly in the collegiate and grassroots scene. It has been an honor to be back in volleyball,” said Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., president and CEO Vic Gregorio, who was joined by general manager Jorge Concepcion during the launch of the tourney yesterday.
“It’s only Year 2 in our return to volleyball but we’re looking forward to more. That’s our mission. It’s almost a dream come true. There is no doubt seeing NCAA teams vs UAAP teams altogether in one tournament is a sight to behold. We’re excited,” he added in the event also attended by PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston.
Like in Season 1, the SSL will implement an all-to-play system for a bigger vision of giving maximum exposure to all players — for the benefit of their individual and overall team development.
“It’s an exciting time for us. Once again, we will use the all-to-play system to give a chance for all the players to play during games. This SSL second season is a testament to the support given by the fans, schools and Shakey’s that represents fun, family and pizza. Shakey’s really equates with volleyball,” said Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc., (ACES) president Dr. Ian Laurel.
