Challenge Cup draws 36 squads

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s top collegiate, club and LGU-based teams collide as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) launches the Challenge Cup today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Twenty squads in the men’s and 16 in the women’s side duke it out in 15 days in the penultimate tournament the PNVF, headed by Ramon Suzara, is hosting this year.

Three-peat UAAP champion National U and reigning PNVF Champions League titlist Cignal headline the cast in the men’s division of the tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by chairman Richard Bachmann, PLDT, Rebisco, Akari, Foton and CBPI.

NU is in Pool B with RTU-Basilan, Arellano U, VNS Asereht and UE-Cherrylume while Cignal leads Pool A with Kuya JM-Davao City, Savouge Aesthetics, Volida Volleyball Club and University of Batangas.

PGJC Navy, 3B Marikina City, Angatleta-Orion, Bataan, Jose Rizal University and Plaridel, Quezon are Pool C as well as UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas, Tacloban City-EV, Iloilo D’Navigators, Santa Rosa City and Emilio Aguinaldo College are in Pool D.

In the women’s division, two-time reigning NCAA queen College of Saint Benilde spearheads Pool A with Volida Volleyball Club, UP Volleyball Club and Parañaque City.

In Pool B are Philippine Air Force, JRU, Davao City and Tacloban City-EV while Arellano, Letran, University of Batangas and RTU-Basilan make up Pool C.