MANILA, Philippines - The Shakey’s V-League highlights its milestone 10th season with a first-ever Shakey’s All-Star Weekend powered by Smart on Nov. 16-17 with the league’s best and brightest players the past decade, including the current toast of college volleyball, clashing in what promises to be a memorable weekend for volley fans at The Arena in San Juan.
The Shakey’s team, to be handled by coach Nestor Pamilar, will be bannered by six of the 10 players voted as the most popular the past decade, including Mary Jean Balse, Michelle Carolino, Rachel Ann Daquis, Aiza Maizo, Suzanne Roces and Angeli Tabaquero.
Backstopping the squad are Angelique Dionela, Rubie de Leon, Maureen Penetrante-Ouano and Tina Salak.
The Smart team, on the other hand, will be led by Dindin Santiago and Jovelyn Gonzaga, who bagged the MVP honors in this year’s conferences, along with Maru Banaticla, Jamenea Ferrer, Jennelyn Reyes, Gretchel Soltones and Pau Soriano and the two other most popular players voted the first 10 years – Alyssa Valdez and Charo Soriano.
Roger Gorayeb is the team coach.
Just like when it partnered with Sports Vision from the very start, Shakey’s executive vice president and chief operating officer Vic Gregorio said Shakey’s is again going all-out in supporting the new endeavor.
“As always, if there is a way for Shakey’s to help, then we will do,†said Gregorio. “Ten years, matagal-tagal na rin tayo. We went into this hoping to make an impact and further develop volleyball in the Philippines. We’re proud and happy we’ve seen great progress in volleyball, whether it’s the effort of V-League or not, Shakey’s is just happy to be there.â€
Before the All-Star game on Nov. 17, skills competitions for fans and V-League players will be held where fans and players alike will have a chance to shoot for big prizes in the dig relay, dig, set and shoot, service shootout, rocket fire, over and under (setting), precision spiking and dig, set and shoot (reverse) categories.
“This is our way of giving back to the fans who have supported the league through all these years,†said Sports Vision chairman Moying Martelino.
The novel event, backed by Mikasa and Accel, will kickoff with a volley interaction camp on Nov. 16 with the league stars themselves conducting a two-session clinic for volley enthusiasts and aspirants.
“We believe that it’s about time that we hold an All-Star Weekend. And everybody was in agreement that we should have a volley weekend where fans and volley stars get together,†said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.
Tickets for the Nov. 16 event are pegged at P50 (free seating) and will be available at The Arena gates starting at 7 a.m. while tickets for Nov. 17 are priced P350 (ringside), P250 (lower box) and P100 (upper box) for the whole day affair and P300, P200 and P50, respectively, for the afternoon activities.