7 teams gear up for Shakey’s LOC

MANILA, Philippines - NCR leg champion National University and Central and Eastern Visayas elims topnotcher University of San Carlos banner the crack seven-team field slugging it out for the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 12 League of Champions set Jan. 7-11 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The NU Lady Bullpups wore down the UST side in four in a thrilling finale to rule the NCR leg and clinch the seventh and last berth in the League of Champions. The other finalists are Southern Luzon champion De La Salle-A, Northern and Central Luzon winner Holy Family Academy, Southern Mindanao titlist Tagum City National High School, Western Visayas ruler St. John’s Institute, and Northern Mindanao leg champion Iligan City National High School.

Meanwhile, Biñan City will also field in a team in the LOC, hoping to make an impact against the established teams in the league. Biñan will host next year’s Season 13 of the Shakey’s GVL, according to Johanz Buenvenida of the organizing Metro Sports.

But with no team holding a distinct advantage over the rest, a fierce battle is seen in the five-day event sponsored by Shakey’s as part of its continuing effort to develop and promote the sport and give it a mainstream appeal.

The event, long considered as the spawning ground of volley talents in the country, is backed by Mikasa, Asics, Volley Prep, Nature’s Spring, Sun Star, The Freeman Newspaper, Cebu Daily News, Sun Cellular and Millenia Suites.

Still, focus will be on NU with Faith Nisperos, Rica Diolan, Kristine Magallanes and Jasmin Nabor tipped to lead the team again after a dominant campaign in the NCR leg where it swept the elims and Kings’ Montessori School in the semis before subduing UST in the finals.

UST ousted last year’s champion Hope Christian High School in the semis but fell short of its bid in the championship, enabling NU to add the title to its growing list of victories following the school’s title romp in UAAP women’s volley, women’s basketball, men’s badminton, men’s beach volley and cheerdance.