THE highly anticipated volleyball action of the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals is slated for next month with several teams, not only in Metro Manila but also from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, set to see action.

ACES president and COO Dr. Ian Laurel revealed what’s next for the league this year as the curtains fell on the Girls Volleyball Invitational League over the weekend.

UAAP 86th season girls’ volleyball champion Adamson University captured the crown last Sunday after it toppled reigning Palarong Pambansa titlist Bacolod Tay Tung in the winner-take-all final.

Kings Montessori School, on the other hand, completed the podium finishers following its runaway win against National University-Nazareth School in the battle for third.

“We’re very happy that the fans ay inaabangan na ulit iyong Shakey’s Super League,” Laurel said. “We always start our year with the high school segment of the league, which is the Shakey’s GVIL and ngayon makita mo, ang lakas ng mga teams.

“So, we’re very happy and we’re very excited and we have a lot more in store for volleyball fans this year,” he added.

Laurel said the top three teams from the UAAP and the NCAA are expected to join the National Invitationals along with two squads from Luzon.

Also expected in the competition are two teams from Cebu, a team from Davao and a squad from Cagayan de Oro.

La Salle ruled last year’s edition of the tilt behind Lady Spikers ace Shevana Laput who was named MVP.

After the mid-season meet, Laurel said the league will stage the Shakey’s Collegiate Pre-season Championship with all teams from the UAAP and NCAA out to participate.

PRIZED UAAP high school standout Shaina Nitura is out to prove her worth in the collegiate ranks–and most importantly still with Adamson University.

The 5-foot-9 open hitter led the Lady Baby Falcons to their first-ever crown in the 86th girls’ volleyball tournament.

The reigning MVP said that she is shrugging off pressure as she is expected to shine and soar for the San Marcelino-based crew.

“I’ll just play my game. Kung sino ako iyon iyong ilalabas ko. Hindi naman ako masyado nagpapa-pressure sa mga tao kasi the more na iniisip ko iyon, the more na inaalala ko magco-college na ko,” Nitura said. “The more na I put pressure on myself mas papangit laro ko,” she added following Adamson’s title in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League over the weekend.

“So, better na I focus on my growth, development over time,” she added.

The Lady Falcons finished with a 3-11 card for seventh in the last volleyball wars.

Having Adamson coach JP Yude at the helm made Nitura’s decision to stay a no-brainer.

“Masaya po kasi siyempre choice ko iyon to stay with Adamson and with coach. Sobrang suwerte ko kasi kay coach, dapat hindi na pakawalan iyong mga ganoong coaches. Wala akong words to describe him basta ang alam ko lang he’s special,” she said.

“God uses him as an instrument para sa amin para i-connect niya kami kay Lord and ilabas kung ano ba talaga iyong potential na mayroon kami.”

Yude, for his part, said that he never forgets to remind Nitura to be humble.

SKIPPER Marck Espejo and the Alas Pilipinas men’s national volleyball team try to salvage a better spot in the AVC Challenge Cup for Men when they wrap up their campaign today at the Isa Sport City Hall in Manama, Bahrain.

The Pinoy spikers square off with dethroned champion Thailand for the battle for 9th to 10th places at 7 p.m.

Last Wednesday night, Alas picked up its first win in the competition after it breezed past a youth-laden Indonesia side 25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22 in the first classification phase, with Espejo dropping 20 points.

Jade Disquitado, Kim Malabunga and Nico Almendras also did their part for coach Sergio Veloso’s maiden triumph.

“We’re very happy because our team won and I hope in our next game we can win again against Thailand,” veteran middle blocker Kim Malabunga said.

“We’re gonna improve our blocking and more. We’re gonna execute our transition,” he added.

BAHRAIN handed the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team a 25-18, 25-23, 25-20 loss yesterday that sent the Pinoy spikers packing in Pool A of the AVC Challenge Cup for Men at the Isa Spot City Hall in Manama.

The Nationals failed to get past last year’s silver medalists that dropped them to 0-2 in the preliminaries.

Bahrain, along with China which earlier this week also trounced the Philippines, has gained a spot in the quarterfinals regardless of its preliminary square-off outcome.

Outside hitter Jau Umandal tried to lift Alas with a nine-point outing while skipper Marck Espejo and middle blocker Kim Malabunga tallied eight markers apiece.

Aside from its loaded spikes, Bahrain showed dominance in defending the net and services, accumulating a team total of 44 attacks, nine kill blocks and seven service aces.

That proved to be too much for the Philippines, which slipped four spots in the FIVB world rankings at 61st.

Alas will also be relegated to the classification round of 9-12th places.

The Philippines finished 10th in the Asian-level tourney last year.

Abdulia Mohamed topscored for Bahrain with 15 markers while Abdulla Mohamed and Khamis Ali fired 11 points each.

THE Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team groped for form and dropped a 19-25, 22-25, 22-25 loss to world No. 31 China yesterday in Pool A play of the AVC Challenge Cup for Men at the Isa Sport City Hall in Manama, Bahrain.

Outside hitter Jau Umandal and opposite spiker Leo Ordiales showed the way for Alas with 10 points apiece while skipper Marck Espejo tallied eight markers.

At stake in the tilt is a spot in the FIVB Men’s Challenger Cup set in July, a qualifying tournament for the prestigious FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

China outclassed the Philippines not only on offense but also in the middle, tallying a team total 43 attacks and five blocks. Alas only had 37 kills and two blocks.

“It’s a good match. I’m so happy with the team because we played with a strong (team like) China. We have three young players on the court and the guys played very well,” Alas coach Sergio Veloso said. “The score is not the same when you look at ‘oh 3-0 but the fight was good.

“This is the most important thing because as I told my players sometimes, we win but every time you need to learn and China gave us a good fight,” he added.

BANNERED by the likes of Marck Espejo and Joshua Retamar, the Alas Pilipinas national men’s volleyball team begins its campaign in the AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Bahrain.

The Nationals take on China early morning today at 12 a.m. in Pool A action at the Isa Bin Rashed Hall, Isa Town.

Alas, currently at the 57th spot in the FIVB world rankings, hopes to surpass its 10th place finish in the last year’s edition of the competition and replicate the podium finish by its women’s counterpart in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women held in Manila last week.

The winner of the Asian tournament will gain a place in the FIVB Challenger Cup, a pre-qualifying joust to earn a spot in the prestigious Volleyball Nations League.

Joining Espejo and Retamar are outside hitters Joshua Umandal, Nico Almendras, Noel Kampton, Jade Disquitado, middle blockers Kim Malabunga, JP Bugaoan, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Lloyd Josafat and setter Joseph Bello.

Completing the team are opposite spiker Leo Ordiales, and liberos Josh Ybanez and Vince Lorenzo with Sergio Veloso calling the shots in the one-week tourney.

“We have a short time to (prepare) for the AVC Challenge Cup. Our pool is so strong. We play with Bahrain in Bahrain. Bahrain is a strong team, and they are playing at home, and we play China,” Veloso said. “Strong field but no matter if we win or not the most important (thing) is how we can improve in these tournaments.

“When you play in the best teams in the world, you can use these opportunities. If the other team gives us a chance, we can beat (them). . . but for this season, we need to play at the maximum and use this opportunity to improve,” he added.

World No. 32 China will be entering the contest with redemption hopes following its relegation.

The Chinese squad saw action in last year’s VNL but was relegated following its dead-last finish.