Thais, Japanese bring brand of play to Shakey’s V-League

MANILA, Philippines - Two aces from Thailand and a top setter from Japan will spice up action in the upcoming Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Third Conference as they back-up three women’s squads in the foreign Reinforced Conference which unfolds Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Wanida Kotruang, who played for Smart last season, returns to spearhead Meralco’s title drive in the four-team event held side-by-side by the inaugural men’s championship, which also features four squads.

Misao Tanyama, who used to play for Japan national team, will also suit up for Meralco, while another Thai, Kesinee Lithawat is expected to reinforce PLDT’s bid in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and where it all started.

Tanyama also played for the Philippine club team that vied in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Club Championship in Thailand while Lithawat anchored Ateneo’s first V-League crown in Season 8.

Cagayan Valley, which boasts of Aiza Maizo, Angeli Tabaquero, Gyzelle Sy, Pau Soriano, Shiela Pineda and Janine Marciano, has tapped the services of Patcharee Saengmuang and Amporn Hyapha.

Army, the other team in the fold, has opted to play all-Filipino, confident of its chances with a crack roster led by Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Ann Daquis, MJ Balse and Nerissa Bautista, who carried the team past Cagayan to capture the Second Conference crown recently.

Focus will also be on the men’s division with 2012 UAAP champion Far Eastern University leading the compact field that also includes Rizal Technological Institute, Instituto Estetico Manila and Systema.

To accommodate the fans of both the men’s and women’s volley, the organizing Sports Vision has set up each playdate involving the two divisions with the men’s providing the appetizer at 4 p.m. and the women’s match capping the twinbill at 6 p.m.

Instituto Estetico and Systema will slug it out in Sunday’s opener after a brief opening rites to be graced by Shakey’s and Sports Vision officials while Army kicks off its back-to-back title bid in the league backed by Mikasa and Accel against Meralco.