Three of the seven teams set to take center stage in the Premier Volleyball League Invitationals unfolding tomorrow at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan look beyond the elims, bracing for a test of skills and talent with two visiting squads spicing up the title chase.
Japan's Kobe Shinwa Women's University and Chinese-Taipei's Taipei King Whales will join the four qualifiers after the single-round elims in another round-robin competition tipped to be cutthroat and relentless given the makeup of each roster and the kind of buildup each team pursued during the break.
"Personally, I'm excited because it's been a long while since I played indoor after I shifted to beach volley," said Jovelyn Gonzaga, back in the Army Black Mamba fold that also features a mix of aces from Honey Royse Tubino, Christine Agno, Sarah Gonzales, Mary Anne Esguerra, Joanne Bunag, Nene Bautista and MJ Balse-Pabayo to Michelle Morente, Jem Gutierrez, Angela Nunag, Jeanette Villareal, Ivy Perez, and Audrey Paran.
"But the two foreign teams should motivate us since their level of play is a lot better compared to us," she added. "While I haven't played the Taiwanese, they are very solid and they, together with the Japanese, should serve as inspiration to the young local players."
Mika Reyes, PLDT's top middle hitter/blocker, said the visiting collegiate squads shouldn't be underestimated "because you can see in their movements that they are more polished."
"At some point, maybe it's more challenging for us pros to play against them. In the VNL (Volleyball Nations League), we were able to compete with them and their level of play is really inspiring," added Reyes, who also boasts of talented teammates, led by Kathleen Arado, Toni Rose Basas, Fiola Ceballos, Jessey de Leon, Rhea Dimaculangan, Heather Guino-o, Jovie Prado, Dell Palomata, Mary Anne Mendez, Julianne Samonte, Wendy Semana, Joy Soyud and Nieza Viray.
"The Taipei King Whales are very good, a strong team, and one of the best in Taiwan," said PVL president Ricky Palou. "We should not also take for granted the college squad from Kobe Shinwa Women's U since it is one of the top collegiate teams in Japan."
But fans can't wait to see their local idols strut their wares with the Cignal HD Spikers, bannered by Rachel Anne Daquis, Grazielle Bombita, Marivic Meneses, Frances Molina and Jerrili Malabanan, and the Gonzaga-led Black Mamba Troopers kick off hostilities at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.
The Choco Mucho-Chery Tiggo clash at 5:30 p.m. should also fire up the explosive opening day twin bill with the Flying Titans all set to soar high on a team built around Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon, Ponggay Gaston, Deanna Wong, Dennise Revilla, Caitlin Viray, Isa Molde, Aduke Ogunsanya, Desiree Cheng and Regine Arocha.
But the Crossovers are out to redeem themselves from a forgettable finish in the Open Conference although Dindin Manabat is a doubtful starter after sustaining a minor left ankle sprain following a bad fall in a spiking drill for a tuneup match.
The likes of power hitter Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Joy Dacoron, Justine Dorog, Shaya Adorador, Jasmine Nabor, Arriane Layug, Maika Ortiz, Rachel Austero, Elain Kasilag, and Alina Bicar, however, are more than ready to clash with the young but talented Choco Mucho crew.
Creamline, meanwhile, makes its debut on Tuesday against Petro Gazz in a duel of teams that disputed the Open Conference crown with the star-studded Cool Smashers seeking to re-assert their mastery over the Angels and the latter going all out to get back at the former.
