The country’s first and only men’s volleyball league is set for a new conference this January 21 with four new competing teams.
With the increased following of the Philippines’ men’s volleyball scene, teams are looking to level up the playing field with the help of conferences such as The Spiker’s Turf which is set to open on January 21, welcoming four additional teams.
The new conference will take place at the Paco Arena in Manila headed by reigning champions the National University (NU)-Sta. Elena, now sponsored by Archipelago Builders, and the runner-ups Cignal HD.
Other teams set to participate in the country's first and only men's volleyball league organized by Sports Vision are Cignal, PGJC-Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, VNS Volleyball Club, Santa Rosa City and newcomers AMC Volleyball, City of Imus, D' Navigators Iloilo and Vanguard Volleyball Team as reported by Philippine News Agency.
"With more teams, we expect a tougher competition," said NU assistant coach Dong dela Cruz, who will be parading a team without Joshua Retamar and Nico Almendras to focus on the upcoming UAAP volleyball season, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Philippine Sports Commission building on Tuesday.
"It's really a blessing that we're getting more teams interested in joining the Spikers' Turf. We're growing and this is a good sign. It just shows everybody that there really is interest not only in women's volley but also in the men's side," Sports Vision President Ricky Palou added.
According to Manila Bulletin, with the tournament now on it’s sixth, its aim remains the same which is to gather the nation’s finest male volleyball players and provide them an outlet to show their talents that may have yet to be discovered.
“We have players na biglang pinag-aagawan ng collegiate schools kasi nakita silang maglaro dito. So, we’re grateful that we’re able to do that,” Tournament director Mozzy Ravena said.
Also present in the weekly forum are Spikers' Turf president Alyssa Valdez, Von Reinhart Gaa, Cignal TV's OIC for Channel Management and Programming for Sports, Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor, Imus head coach Sammy Acaylar, Santa Rosa assistant coach Carlos Cantor, D' Navigators coordinator Francis Babon, Navy head coach Cecille Cruzada, Air Force head coach Jhim Merza, Army player Ken Baloaloa, Vanguard head coach Edjet Mabbayad and VNS head coach Ralph Ocampo.
With the tagline ‘Where Power Meets Passion,’ Valdez added that the organization has put in the effort to make sure that the passion of the teams will be in full display while still showcasing the fun and excitement throughout the whole tourney.
Tags: #mensvolleyball, #conference, #league