Top UAAP, NCAA teams to banner national invitationals in July

June 11, 2023 Times Europe

La Salle Lady Spikers. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After the successful staging of the Girls Volleyball Invitational League, Shakey’s Super League (SSL)is looking to gather the top three teams in the UAAP and NCAA with two schools each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the national invitationals.

ACES president Dr. Ian Laurel bared they are eyeing to stage a national competition in the final week of July at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

“True to our commitment to encourage more players to showcase their skills, we will have the top three of NCAA and UAAP and two teams each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” Laurel told reporters in Filipino. “It’s gonna be nationwide so I think it’s a good way to discover more talents.”

UAAP’s top three are bannered by the Season 85 champions De La Salle Lady Spikers, runner-ups National University Lady Bulldogs, and the bronze medalists Adamson Lady Falcons.

College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers. NCAA PHOTO

Back-to-back NCAA titlist College of Saint Benilde leads the NCAA podium finishers, which include silver medalist Lyceum and University of Perpetual Help.

Laurel said the college teams have already committed to play in their upcoming tournament.

“Hundred percent they are joining. I’m glad that they are looking forward to it already,” he said.

Laurel and ACES, who organized the defunct Philippine Superliga, returned to the volleyball scene last year by tying up with Shakey’s, uniting all 18 UAAP and NCAA schools in a preseason tournament, which NU swept.

SSL received clamor from fans and high school to also stage a girls’ volleyball tournament. The league heeded the call and organized the GVIL, where provincial teams California Academy in Antipolo, Naga College Foundation, and Bacolod Tay Tung emerged as the top three.

Laurel seeks to continue providing an avenue not only for college teams but also for high school.

“As early as high school, we should oversee the development of a player. That’s where the skills get better and their bodies develop more so it’s good to start an organized volleyball in high school,” he said. “They have a very bright future. As you saw, the collegiate coaches intently watching them and talking to them trying to convince them to play for their schools in college. Because of GVIL, they were able to show what they are capable of.”