Shakey’s V-League Reinforced tourney unfolds Saturday

MANILA, Philippines - The Shakey’s V-League rides on the crest of the recent Collegiate Conference’s huge success as it kicks off its season-ending Reinforced Conference on Saturday with powerhouse Army out to complete what it has failed to achieve last year.

With a stellar cast headed by Rachel Ann Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Maraño, MJ Balse, Nerissa Bautista and setter Tina Salak, the Lady Troopers loom as the top favorite in the six-team field in the weekend-only tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Army, which has won two Open titles in the league where it all started, got swept by Cagayan Valley in last year’s championship and lost to PLDT Home Ultera in sudden death in this year’s Open Conference finals.

Those setbacks only made the Lady Troopers, who also include Patricia Siatan-Torres, Joanne Bunag, Genie Sabas, Remy Joy Palma, Angela Nunag, Honey Royse Tubino, Christine Agno and Sarah Jane Gonzales, hungrier with head coach Emil Reyes confident of closing out the season on a winning note.

Still, it will be an uphill battle for the star-studded squad with PLDT Home Ultera out to make it two-in-row over Army this year while Navy, Coast Guard and UP Diliman also all primed up for the championship in the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

The organizing Sports Vision said the sixth team will be composed of aces from Cagayan Valley, Meralco and other squads, making it an instant contender in the league coming off another successful finals that saw National U edge Ateneo for the Collegiate Conference crown last week.

With a short format, action is expected to be tight and fierce with the top four teams after the single round elims advancing to the semifinals. To make each game crucial, the top two teams after the prelims will gain twice-to-beat edges in the crossover semis.

“This is going to be a fitting ending to what has been another banner year for the Shakey’s V-League. While Army boasts of a formidable roster, the other five squads also pack solid lineups, guaranteeing a spirited chase for the championship,” said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.

Winners will dispute the championship in a best-of-three series with the losers clashing for third place in a separate best-of-three.