By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Shakey’s Super League Girls Invitational Tournament is opening its doors to more schools for its third season in an effort to continue providing the avenue and exposure for the future of women’s volleyball.
The SSL GVIL fires off Wednesday, May 28 with a total of 30 schools, grouped into two divisions – 20 teams are bunched in the Division I while 10 teams in the Division II – fighting it out for their school’s glory.
Dr. Ian Laurel, president of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES) sees the big leap in participating schools as a step towards the right direction for the league.
“Whether it’s a difference in programs, recruitment and opportunities, both divisions share one common thing, it’s the passion they have for volleyball. I really like the way we come up with two divisions one for development and aspirational naman yung isa,” he added.
Last year’s UAAP rookie of the year Shaina Nitura also graced the event, highlighting the importance for young athletes to take advantage of tournaments like GVIL and use it as springboard for their respective careers.
“‘Yung mga liga like Shakeys is like parang mga exam so yung pinoproduce ng mga teams, doon naeexamine. Kung gaano sila kagaling, gaano na iyong tinrabaho nila so I really think this is a big opportunity for the young players na makaharap ng best of the bests,” said Nitura.
Four pools comprise Division I with reigning champion Adamson joining Lyceum Manila, Naga College Foundation, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and University of Perpetual Help-DALTA in Pool A.
Pool B is composed of Bacolod Tay Tung Bethel Academy in Cavite, De La Salle–Lipa, Chiang Kai Shek College Manila, and Holy Rosary College Caloocan while Pool C features Cal Babies, La Salle Zobel A, Corpus Christi School, Arellano High School, and King’s Montessori School Quezon City.
NU, on the other hand, headlined Pool D along with fellow UAAP schools FEU–Diliman, UP Integrated School, and UST, as well as St. John’s Institute Bacolod.
In Division II, La Salle Green Hills, Miriam College, La Salle Zobel B, Everest International Academy, and Assumption College San Lorenzo compose the Pool E while Assumption College Antipolo, St. Paul College-Pasig, St. Theresa’s College-QC, Domuschola International School, and Immaculate Conception Academy are bunched in Pool F.
Each team plays the other teams in their pool in a three-game set, single-round robin format during the preliminaries. Top 2 teams from each group advance to the knockouts which will then be played in a five-set game.
Two best teams in the Division II will get an invite to the Division I next season.
