TOP high school players representing the future of Philippine volleyball will display their wares when the inaugural Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (GVIL) kicks off May 7 at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

A fitting sequel to the Shakey’s collegiate pre-season tournament last year, the event is being organized by the Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc., (ACES) in cooperation with the popular pizza parlor as part of its grassroots volleyball development program.

“We’re very happy again to be involved in the future of Philippine volleyball. It’s almost like a full circle. I see the future of Philippine volleyball here and we’re grateful to partner with ACES once again,”said SPAVI president and CEO Vic Gregorio during the event launch at Shakey’s Magallanes last Wednesday.

“We assure that we’ll be doing everything we can to put the spotlight on these young players and teams,” added Gregorio, who was joined by SPAVI general manager Jorge Concepcion.

ACES chairman Dr. Philip Ella Juico and president Dr. Ian Laurel echoed Gregorio’s observation, saying they share the same vision in creating a platform for the up-and-coming players in the high school ranks, who in the process will carry the Philippine volleyball torch here and abroad.

“This will serve as a conveyor belt na gumugulong to college and the future of the Philippines. The chain could only go strong as its weakest link so in improving Philippine volleyball, the high school ranks play a key role and later on, the primary level,” said Juico.

“It’s about giving exposure to the Filipino youth. That’s the vision we share with Shakey’s. Nagkakasundo kami doon.”

The Shakey’s-ACES tie-up gave birth to the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Tournament in 2022 that historically assembled all 18 teams from the UAAP (8) and NCAA (10) with National U rising as its first-ever champion.

This time, NU’s sister teams in the NU-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups, which is coming off a championship in the UAAP juniors, take centerstage to headline the 16-team GVIL cast along with visiting squads all the way from Cavite, Lipa, Bacolod and Naga.

Adamson, University of Santo Tomas, La Salle Zobel and Far Eastern U Diliman from the UAAP, NCAA’s Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Cavite and University of Perpetual Help System are also in the fray with Grace Christian College Foundation, King’s Montessori School, California Academy and St. Clare College-Caloocan.

La Salle Lipa, Bacolod Tay Tung High School and Naga College Foundation complete the cast as they go the extra mile in the nation’s capital to represent their respective provinces.

All 16 teams will be divided into four pools, featuring a format of three sets a game, with the top two teams advancing in the knockout quarterfinals until the finals, where a longer five-set match will be played.

All games will be broadcasted by Plus Network on all its social media platforms as well as on the Shakey’s Super League and SPAVIs social media pages with CNN Philippines, Solar Sports and Tap Sports serving as free and cable TV partners.