Shakey’s V-L collegiate tiff fires off tomorrow

Games Saturday

(Ynares Arena, Pasig)

4 p.m. – UP vs San Beda

6 p.m. – San Sebastian vs Perpetual

MANILA, Philippines - Action in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 resumes tomorrow with the Collegiate Conference featuring teams gearing up for their respective varsity leagues clashing in what promises to be another thrilling mid-season offering of the country’s premier women’s volley league.

National U sets out to defend the crown it won over Ateneo via sudden death last year but eight other teams are bringing in souped-up rosters, guaranteeing a slam-bang action in the two-month tournament sponsored by Shakey’s for the 13th straight year.

Lanky Jaja Santiago, the UAAP Season 78 best spiker, will banner the Lady Bulldogs’ title-retention bid along with Fil-Japanese recruit Risa Sato, Jasmine Nabor, Joy Doromal, Aiko Urdas, Gayle Valdez and Jorelle Singh, while the Lady Eagles, now without former ace Alyssa Valdez, who has graduated, will pin their hopes on Jhoanna Maraguinot, Kim Gequillana, Bea de Leon, Ana Gopico, Julia Morado and Michelle Morente.

But the eight other teams are raring to prove their worth, including reigning NCAA champion St. Benilde, vastly improved University of the Philippines, many-time NCAA titlist San Sebastian College, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta, Far Eastern University, San Beda College and many-time V-League titlists University of Santo Tomas.

UP and San Beda kick off hostilities at 4 p.m. while SSC and Perpetual tangle in the 6 p.m. main game to be shown live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23.

Meanwhile, 12 teams are vying in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference with St. Benilde leading Group A that includes La Salle, FEU, NU, Philippine Merchant Marine School and Perpetual and Ateneo, Emilio Aguinaldo College, National College of Business and Arts, San Beda, UP and UST making up Group B.

St. Benilde and La Salle tangle in the opener at 11 a.m. while UP and EAC collide at 1 p.m. which can be viewed live via screening on www.v-league.ph.

The organizing Sports Vision expects a fierce battle in all matches in the V-League – the tournament, backed by Mikasa as the official ball and Accel as official outfitter – being a single round robin elims with the field split into two groups. The top three will then advance to the carryover quarterfinals with the top four moving into the crossover semis.