FOR the first time in tournament history, the Shakey's Super League (SSL) Collegiate National Invitationals is going international.
Two foreign clubs will join the SSL field as Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club and Australia's Southern Storm Melbourne challenge four of the Philippines' top collegiate programs starting on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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The historic expansion adds an international flavor to the annual preseason tournament, giving local teams a valuable benchmark before plunging into the new collegiate volleyball season early next year.
Reigning NCAA champion Letran, fellow NCAA powerhouse College of Saint Benilde, UAAP contender University of Santo Tomas and emerging program Enderun Colleges comprise the homegrown contingent set to take on overseas competition.
The six teams will play a single-round elimination, with the top four advancing to the knockout semifinals. Both the bronze medal match and the championship will be contested in winner-take-all fashion.
Letran gets first crack at the Aussies when it opens against Southern Storm Melbourne at 1 p.m. UST and Enderun then clash in an all-Filipino affair at 3 p.m. before Benilde squares off with Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club in the 5 p.m. main game.
Fresh off ending its long NCAA title drought, Letran banks on champions Judiel Nitura, Verenicce Colendra and Joralyn Panangin, although the Lady Knights will miss veterans Gia Maquilang and Vanessa Sarie due to knee and right shoulder injuries, respectively.
"Ang biggest goal namin is to become a better team every game. We want to maximize this opportunity against strong local and international teams, kasi may mga makakalaban tayong teams from Australia and Vietnam," said Letran assistant coach Mayeth Carolino.
"Malalakas din ang mga local teams kasi nandyan ang Benilde and UST and may Enderun pa so kailangan naming magpursige dito sa National Invitationals. Malaking opportunity na makasali rito."
Benilde coach Jerry Yee, meanwhile, views the tournament as the perfect proving ground for a revamped Lady Blazers squad after several departures from last season, with Kai Lleses and reigning NCAA Rookie of the Year Cam Bartolome headlining the new-look roster.
"Marami kaming nawala from last year. Marami tayong susubukan ngayon. Marami tayong titingnan. So hopefully, makapag-compete tayo. Hopefully, maganda ang performance namin," Yee said.
UST also boasts an intriguing mix of veterans and youth, with Angge Poyos, Regina Jurado, Avril Bron and Marga Altea welcoming reigning SGVIL Rising Stars Cup Division 1 MVP Kim Rubin into the fold.
Enderun coach Dong Dela Cruz believes the tournament offers his program a rare chance to gain experience against some of the country's strongest collegiate teams while also facing international opposition.
"Isang malaking karangalan ang makasali rito. Malaking tulong ito para magkaroon kami ng exposure against sa mga UAAP and NCAA teams and also may international flavor din. And of course, gusto naming ipakita na may volleyball program ang Enderun," he said.
Foreign flair in play
The visiting teams, meanwhile, intend to make their first appearance count.
"Our team will try our best and see how far we'll be able to go in the tournament. We just want to demonstrate our best," said Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club coach Huinn Do Hong Loan.
Southern Storm Melbourne coach Carlo Pacioni is likewise eager to experience the Philippines' brand of volleyball.
"We want to experience a different flavor of volleyball here in the Philippines. We expect the style to be different in what we play and I think we are very eager for the challenge to keep up with it," he said.
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