The country’s top volleyball players get the chance to showcase their skills and characters when the Shakey’s Super League 2022 Collegiate Pre-season Championship unwraps Saturday with a heavy four-game spectacle at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
University of the East and Mapua take the honor of playing first when they clash at 12 noon before University of Perpetual Help collides with San Beda at 2 p.m.
But all eyes will be on NCAA champion College of St. Benilde as the Lady Blazers tackle the FEU Lady Tamraws at 4 p.m. in Pool D of the tournament that gathers 18 teams from the UAAP and NCAA.
Capping the hectic opening day is the Pool B showdown between Adamson and University of Sto. Tomas at 6 p.m.
Invited as guests of honor and key speakers are Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala and Commission on Higher Education chairperson Prospero de Vera.
The opening rites will be held right after the San Beda-Perpetual tiff.
UAAP champion National University is also taking part in the event.
Shakey’s Pizza Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) president and CEO Vicente Gregorio will deliver the inspirational speech while Philip Ella Juico, chairman and CEO of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), will give the welcome remarks.
“We do not consider ourselves as a team-to-beat. We don’t want that pressure,” said CSB coach Jerry Yee.
Interestingly, Yee will also call the shots for Adamson.
Leading the way for the Taft-based squad are NCAA Most Valuable Player Mycah Go, Gayle Pascual, Michelle Gamit and setter Cloanne Mondonedo.
The event will use the “all-to-play” format where all players in a team’s roster will get to see action to gain the much-needed exposure.
“The benefit of having this rule is that players are going to get enough exposure and playing time. Coaches can also take advantage of this format to try different combinations which they can eventually use for their respective collegiate leagues,” said Juico.
Under the “all-to-play” rule different sets of players, except for libero, will be fielded in the first two sets of a match. Regular substitution will return when the set score reaches 16.
