EIGHT teams from the men’s and women’s play will do battle in the V-League Collegiate Challenge set to begin next week at the Paco Arena in Manila.
This year’s V-League Collegiate Challenge is expected to feature competitive matches as reigning UAAP champion National University banners the field along with defending NCAA titlist College of St. Benilde and men’s holder Perpetual Help.
University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, University of the East, University of the Philippines, Letran and Lyceum complete the women’s slate.
Former aces Cloanne Mondonedo and Gayle Pascual are now gone for the Lady Blazers due to graduation.
The Taft-based belles completed a finals sweep against the Lady Tamaraws in the tilt’s last edition behind finals MVP Pascual.
Wielyn Estoque, Jessa Dorog, Zam Nolasco, Clydel Catarig and Chenae Basarte will be counted upon by CSB.
In the men’s division, NU and Perpetual will be joined by defending champion La Salle, Ateneo, UST, FEU, and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
The Green Spikers are keen on retaining the crown they won at the expense of the Tiger Spikers last year.
Finals MVP Noel Kampton is tipped to show the way for La Salle along with Vince Maglinao and Eco Adajar.
The totuney will be played on Sundays and Wednesdays and will run until Oct. 4.
The opening games will be held at Paco Arena with the following matches set at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, and at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium.