37 TEAMS MAGHAHATAWAN SA PNVF CHALLENGE CUP

IDARAOS ng Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) ang Challenge Cup na lalahukan ng 37 koponan —20 men at 17 women— simula sa Lunes, November 6, sa Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“This is the biggest local volleyball tournament that will help highlight the season-long activities of the federation,” pahayag ni Ramon “Tats” Suzara, presidente ng PNVF. “And with such a big turnout, we’ll be having dozens of matches for almost three weeks of the competition.”

Gaganapin ang Challenge Cup eliminations mula November 6 hanggang 9 at 13 hanggang 19, habang ang quarterfinals ay nakatakda sa November 20 para sa men at 21 sa women, semifinals sa November 22 at finals sa November 23.

Ayon kay Suzara, ang mga laro ay aabot sa kabuuang 76 — 48 men at 36 women. Magkakaroon ng hindi bababa sa anim na laro kada araw at sa ilang araw ay pito.

Orihinal na para lamang sa local government unit (LGU)-based, ang Challenge Cup ay umakit ng school teams at clubs mula sa buong bansa.

“This shows how active volleyball is in the developmental, LGU and school level,” ani Suzara. “Volleyball could now rank as the No. 2 team sport in the country after basketball.”

Kumpirmadong lalahok sa men’s division ang Plaridel (Quezon), Orion (Bataan), University of Batangas, University of Santo Tomas, Rizal Technological University (RTU)-Basilan at Savouge.

Nasa men’s roster din ang Cignal, Davao City, Iloilo D’Navigators, VNS, Volida, Philippine Navy at Tacloban City at school teams Arellano University, University of the East, Jose Rizal University (JRU), Santa Rosa City, National University, Emilio Aguinaldo College at Marikina City.

Ang Davao City, University of Batangas, Arellano University, Volida, Tacloban City, JRU at RTU-Basilan ay magpapasok din ng mga koponan sa women’s division, na kinabibilangan ng Parañaque City, Philippine Air Force at Tagaytay City.

Kinumpleto ng collegiate squads mula sa De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, San Beda University, University of the Philippines (UP), UP Volleyball Club, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas at Colegio de San Juan de Letran ang women’s category.