Shakey’s Super League launched

MANILA, Philippines — A new dawn has arrived in local volleyball scene with the launch of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) that will feature the finest colleges and universities across all regions in a bid to shore up the country’s grassroots volleyball development.

The student-based nationwide league will usher in two conferences for its inaugural season that also marks the return of the renowned pizza brand as a major player in Philippine volleyball circle with Athletic Events and Sports Management Group Inc. (ACES) as backer.

Reigning UAAP champion National U and defending NCAA titlist College of St. Benilde banner the star-studded cast made up of six UAAP squads and all 10 NCAA teams.

SSL is still in the process of including University of the Philippines and Adamson to complete the stacked 18-strong cast for its first conference before the bigger National Invitational Tournament in February 2023.

The National Invitational Tournament serving as SSL’s second conference will feature a bevy of qualifiers from 18 regions slugging it out for the right to compete in the national championships in July 2023.

“Shakey’s has been synonymous with volleyball as volleyball has been synonymous with Shakey’s. It’s time to revive that relationship after the pandemic,” said ACES chairman and CEO Dr. Philip “Popoy” Ella Juico, also the chairman of Philippine Superliga (PSL) that took a leave of absence amid the pandemic.

“We’re back and with added vigor as we plan to organize a truly national invitational championship. We’re excited to be given another chance to promote women’s volleyball,” said Vicente Gregorio, SPAVI president and CEO.

The staunch volleyball supporter last backed a tournament in 2016 after 13 seasons of the Shakey’s V-League before coming back this year for a far nobler cause.

With Dr. Adrian Laurel (ACES president and COO) and Jorge Concepcion (SPAVI general manager) leading the way, SSL aims to level up with a nationwide tour for the national invitationals with planned stops in Laoag, Angeles, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos City.