Shakey’s girls volleyball expands to 32 teams, 2 divisions
MANILA, Philippines – The Shakey’s Girls Invitational Tournament (GVIL) unfolds with its biggest staging yet as the third edition features 32 volleyball teams in two divisions.
The weeks-long tournament will hold its first serve on Wednesday, May 28, with all games set at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
Led by UAAP champion NU-Nazareth School (NUNS), GVIL defending titlist Adamson, and inaugural winner California Academy, 20 teams will see action in Division 1, while the remaining 12 will duke it out in Division 2.
“Since the start of the GVIL, numerous schools have expressed interest in participating, but with our format in the past two years, we could only accommodate a limited number of teams,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES).
“But what’s good about it is that we work on expanding each year. From 16 teams during our inaugural edition, we had 18 last season, and this time, a total of 20 teams will be participating in Division 1,” he added.
“Plus, we now have a Division 2, where we can give other schools an avenue for development and exposure.”
The top two teams in the four pools will advance to the knockout quarterfinals, then the one-game semifinal, and final.
For the preliminary round through the quarterfinal, a three-set game will be implemented, with all frames a race to 25.
The semifinal and final games, meanwhile will be played as a best-of-five set contest.
Reigning champion Adamson leads the pack in Pool A, along with Lyceum Manila, Naga College Foundation, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and University of Perpetual Help-DALTA.
Last year’s runners-up Bacolod Tay Tung headlines Pool B, and will be joined by Bethel Academy in Cavite, De La Salle–Lipa, Chang Kai Shek College Manila, and Holy Rosary College Caloocan.
The Cal Babies, coached by former star Casiey Dongallo, battle La Salle Zobel A, Corpus Christi School, Arellano High School, and King’s Montessori School Quezon City in Pool C.
NU got bunched with fellow UAAP schools FEU–Diliman, UP Integrated School, and UST, along with St. John’s Institute Bacolod in Pool D.
As the games coincide with the Palarong Pambansa, some teams will play ahead and compete twice in one game day.
Two invites to Division 1 next year will be awarded to the topnotchers in Division 2.
In Division 2, Pool E features La Salle Green Hills, Miriam College, La Salle Zobel B, Everest International Academy, and Assumption College San Lorenzo.
Pool F pits Assumption College Antipolo, St. Paul College-Pasig, St. Theresa’s College-QC, Domuschola International School, and Immaculate Conception Academy.
Games will be broadcast live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, while Solar Sports will carry the television rights. – Rappler.com