February 10 ------ IT will be a wide-open field to the top as all teams vow to wage strong fights in the third Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League starting on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila. With a balanced cast made up of seasoned pro clubs, new-look squads and collegiate-based teams, expect a toss-up for the prestigious title of the PNVF’s first tournament this season.
The tournament promises to be a closely contested battle, reminiscent of the previous two editions that witnessed different squads emerge victorious. “'Yung level of competition and how the games are conducted, we can offer the best officiating and organizing. That will help in the level of competition in the Champions League,” said secretary general Don Caringal of the PNVF, headed by president Ramon “Tats” Suzara. “This is one of our premier events of the PNVF. For sure, it will be everybody’s ball game. It will be competitive.”
Five squads in the women’s division and eight in the men’s play split into two groups will duke it out in the volleyball marathon running until Feb. 17. The women’s joust is slated on Feb. 4 to 10 while the men’s tiff rolls on Feb. 11 to 17. One of the most anticipated squads is Chery Tiggo, which will parade former F2 Logistics skipper Aby Maraño for the first time since her acquisition in the off-season ahead of their foray in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). “Excited kami to start the year with a bang. Ito ‘yung unang liga natin this 2024. Syempre, ang goal natin is to win the championship,” said the decorated middle blocker, who will also have F2 compatriot Ara Galang on the Crossovers’ deck.
Maraño, who has been appointed team captain, and Galang will reinforce the Kungfu Reyes-mentored Chery squad bannered by former PVL MVP Mylene Paat and young superstar Eya Laure. Cignal, Petro Gazz, and Philippine Army are the other pro squads in the women’s division along with PNVF Challenge Cup and back-to-back NCAA champion College of St. Benilde.
Cignal and Petro Gazz will also have former F2 players in libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Myla Pablo – who’s a former Angel and PVL MVP – respectively as their reinforcements after the disbandment of the Cargo Movers. Chery Tiggo and Cignal will star in the main event of the double-header opener on Sunday at 6 p.m. after the duel between Philippine Army and Petro Gazz at 3:30 p.m. St. Benilde will open its campaign against Petro Gazz the next day. Reigning champion Cignal, meanwhile, spearheads the men’s division with PGJC Philippine Navy, Savouge Spin Doctors and CSB in Pool A with VNS Asereht Griffins, Iloilo D’Navigators, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Army making up Pool B.
The Champions League, which will have the Top 4 teams battling in the knockout semis after the single-round elims, will be aired live on One Sports and One Sports+ and livestreamed on Pilipinas Live and on delayed basis on Cignal.
Source: spin.ph
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