THE Shakey’s V-League’s best and brightest—and perhaps even the prettiest—get to showcase their wares in what could go down as a no-holds-barred and all-fun All-Star Games on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Sports Vision, organizer of the Shakey’s V-League, which has recently concluded its 13th season and the young Spikers’ Turf for men, is staging the All-Star Games for the first time, an extravaganza which the group’s president, Ricky Palou, said is their way of giving back to the fans.
“We believe that the timing is perfect for such an endeavor,” Palou said. “This is not only to showcase our best, but to also give back to the fans and the victims of Typhoon Lawin.”
The Shakey’s V-League All-Star Game is the main event of the festivities at 5:15 p.m., while the Spikers’ Turf All-Star Game commences at 3 p.m.
Proceeds of the event will go to victims of Typhoon Lawin.
According to Tournament Director Tony Liao, the coaches were selected based on their performance. As for the players, their selection was primarily based on statistics.
The coaches, Guiao said, picked their players in a “draft-like” manner.
“And like the NBA [National Basketball Association] All-Star Game, the players in this charity event will wear their respective light and dark club or school jerseys depending on which team they are listed.”
Bureau of Customs star Alyssa Valdez banners Team 1 with her former Ateneo teammates Denden Lazaro and Dzi Gervacio of BaliPure, Jema Galanza and Wenneth Eulalio of Laoag, Wendy Semana and Jocemer Tapic of Air Force, Fen Emnas of Customs and Elaine Kasilag of Pocari Sweat.
Team 1 also includes EJ Laure of University of Santo Tomas (UST), Nicole Tiamzon of University of the Philippines (UP) and Remy Palma of Far Eastern University (FEU).
Philippine Air Force’s Jasper Jimenez, Bureau of Customs’ Sherwin Meneses, and Laoag’s Nes Pamiliar will call the shots for Team 1.
Team 2 is mostly composed of collegiate stars. Pocari Sweat stars Michele Gumabao, Myla Pablo, Melissa Gohing, Gyzelle Sy and BaliPure’s Amy Ahomiro will lead the young All-Team 2, along with UP’s Isa Molde, Diana Carlos and Marianne Buitre, as well as UST’s Cherry Rondina and Ria Meneses, Ateneo’s Jia Morado and FEU’s Chin Basas.
The Team 2 coaching staff is composed of Rommel Abella of Pocari Sweat, Kungfu Reyes of UST and Jerry Yee of UP.
Collegiate Conference champion National University’s Jaja Santiago and Jasmine Nabor and their coach, Edjet Mabbayad, will miss the All-Star. They are attending a 12-day training camp with the whole NU team in Japan.
The Open Conference Most Valuable Player Grethcel Soltones, who played three conferences for BaliPure, San Sebastian College and Laoag, would not be around because of her commitment with San Sebastian in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 92 women’s tournament, which is now in full swing.
The extravaganza—supported by Shakey’s, Mikasa, Accel, BaliPure, Pocari Sweat, the Philippine Sports Commission and ABS-CBN Sports and Action—begins at 1:30 p.m. with a meet-and-greet activity with fans.
The games will be televised on ABS-CBN Sports and Action on a delayed basis, according to Sports Vision General Manager Ramon Martelino.
“The proceeds after cost will be donated to the victims of Typhoon Lawin through the ABS-CBN Foundation. Hopefully, through volleyball we can generate awareness about the plight and suffering of our countrymen and for our players, coaches, partners and fans to be socially aware,” Martelino said.