Shakey’s GVL NCR elims under way

MANILA, Philippines - Hope Christian High School clashes with Academy of God’s Children while University of Santo Tomas collides with Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan Inc. as action in the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 12 National Capital Region leg begins today at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Hope Christian tossers battle the AGC side at 4 p.m. in a Pool A match after the 3 p.m. duel between the UST spikers and the ESCI squad in Pool B of the three-weekend tournament capping the six-leg nationwide elims of the annual event sponsored by Shakey’s.

De La Salle-Zobel takes on Kings’ Montessori School at 2 p.m. in another Pool A game while National U and Rizal High School face off at 5 p.m. in Pool B of the tournament backed by Mikasa, Asics, Volley Prep, Nature’s Spring, Sun Star, The Freeman Newspaper, Cebu Daily News, Sun Cellular and Millenia Suites.

The two teams from each side after the single round elims will advance to the crossover semis with the winners clashing for top honors and the berth in the Shakey’s Volleyball League of Champions, formerly the Tournament of Champions, which features the winners of the other regional elims.

Other teams seeing action are Grace Christian College in Pool A and Angelicum College in Pool A.

Hope and UST have been picked to dispute the title although a slew of others will be out to foil their bid in what promises to be a wild chase to the Final Four.

The League of Champions, set Jan. 11-16, 2015, also at the Ynares Sports Center, will be spiced up by the participation of foreign teams from Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and the US, according to Metro Sports’ Johanz Buenvenida.

The early finalists are Iligan City National High School, St. John’s Institute, Tagum City National High School, University of San Carlos and Holy Family Academy.