Shakey’s V-L returns with strongest cast

MANILA, Philippines - Shakey’s V-League rides the crest of volleyball’s popularity it helped spur as it reaffirms its position as the No. 1 women’s volley league by holding its 12th edition on April 5 with eight teams disputing the Open Conference crown at The Arena in San Juan.

Ateneo superstar and back-to-back UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez will be re-united with former Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb at PLDT as its spearhead.

“Yes, she (Valdez) is playing,” said Gorayeb, who also coaches the national women’s under-23 and Southeast Asian Games-bound senior team in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

At PLDT, Valdez will be joined by Rubie de Leon, Suzanne Roces, San Sebastian’s Gretchel Soltones, Ateneo’s Den Den Lazaro, Jem Ferrer and Charo Soriano and National U mainstay Jaja Santiago.

Ricky Palou of the organizing Sports Vision yesterday said the upcoming tournament is one of the strongest in years.

“We have a bigger, better conference this year, perhaps the strongest because the best of the best is here,” said Palou.

Army, which swept Cagayan Valley in last year’s finals, is back for another shot at the crown with a roster headed by the country’s leading spikers, including Rachel Ann Daquis, Nerissa Bautista, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Mary Jean Balse and Tina Salak.

The Rising Suns are also coming back not only for an Army payback but also for a crack at the championship they annexed in Season 9 on a team built around the gutsy Perpetual Help spikers.

The current Cagayan roster is composed of Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Ma. Angeli Tabaquero, Pau Soriano, Rosemarie Vargas, Shiela Mae Pineda, Wenneth Eulalio, Gyzelle Sy and Relea Saet.

Perpetual is putting up its own squad, dubbed the Fourbees, headed by Katrina Sta. Maria, Wendy Abcede, Vhima Condada, Mary Joy Calleja and Jowie Versoza.

Completing the eight-team field in the league, where it all started, are Baguio, the Philippine Coast Guard, Meralco, Navy and PLDT.

The PLDT squad looms as an early title contender with Ateneo star and back-to-back UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez in the fold along with former league MVP Suzanne Roces, Rysabelle Devanadera, Gretchel Soltones, Laurence Ann Latigay, Charo Soriano and Dennise Lazaro and Rubie de Leon.

Meralco is also parading a solid roster headed by former La Salle stars Abby Marano and Stephanie Mercado, former Ateneo stalwart Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, Jen Reyes, Maica Morada, Zharmaine Velez and Faye Guevara.

“Aside from us, I see Cagayan Valley and Army as title contenders,” said Gorayeb.

“We’re a team that has been intact for more than two years now and our experience are really plus factors for us,” said Cagayan mentor Nes Pamilar, who is out to steer his team to its back-to-back Open title and third overall.

Moying Martelino, also of Sports Vision, said format is a single-round robin with the top four advancing to the semifinals, another single-round robin phase with the top two disputing the crown in a best-of-three series.

Martelino said they decided to shorten the Open Conference a bit to give way for the Asian Under-23 women’s championship the country is hosting this May and the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore this June.

“The Shakey’s V-League always gives way if we’re talking about the country’s interest,” said Martelino.