Shakey’s V-League opens door to men

MANILA, Philippines - Male volleyball players share the limelight with their female counterparts for the first time as the Shakey’s V-League opens its Season 11 third conference on Sunday at San Juan Arena.

According to the organizing Sports Vision, they decided to start hostilities for a men’s division in the season-ending tournament as part of efforts to boost volleyball among the men.

“We believe men’s volleyball is also enjoying an increase in popularity and we’d like to give it a further push. We’re confident it would be as popular as women’s volleyball,” Sports Vision president Ricky Palou during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Palou, Sports Vision chairman Moying Martelino, and Shakey’s marketing and guest engagement director Chez Manalaysay and Shakey’s PR and events officer Jam Evaristo, discussed SVL’s culminating tournament for its 11th season backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Four teams will be featured in the inaugural men’s competitions with Instituto Estetico Manila and Systema already confirmed. Two more from prospects Air Force, Perpetual and Cignal will complete the roster.

Men’s hostilities will serve as curtain raiser to women’s play every playdate. Matches are set at 4 p.m. for the men’s and 6 p.m. for the women’s every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Martelino said the initial plan was to start a men’s division next year yet but they decided to push it earlier.

“Our first conference is reserved for collegiate teams so if we don’t start the men’s division this year, they’d have to wait until the second or third conference of 2015. We decided to start it now so that immediately, club teams can participate,” said Martelino.

“We’re confident the men’s division will generate interest and be as successful as the women’s division,” said Manalaysay.

Meanwhile, eyes will be on Army, winner of the second conference, in the four-team women’s hostilities. The Army women will play all-Filipino against Cagayan, Meralco and PLDT, which are all likely to tap imports.

Teams will play in a double round robin format with the top two teams advancing to the best-of-three finals and the lower two engaging in a race-to-two for the bronze.