FANCIED squads La Salle, College of St. Benilde, UST and Adamson seek to live up to expectations against separate counterparts to top their groups and clinch quarterfinal tickets in Day 3 of the 2023 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Action kicks off a 9 a.m. with reigning UAAP champion La Salle (1-0) clashing against CESAFI runner-up University of Southern Philippines Foundation (0-1) in Pool A followed by the 12 p.m. duel between Adamson (1-0) and Lyceum (0-1) in Pool C.
At 2 p.m., UST collides (1-0) with La Salle-Dasma (0-1) in Pool B while two-time NCAA queen CSB tackles Enderun Colleges at 4 p.m. in Pool D to wrap up the short single-round robin elims among 12 teams from the NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout playoffs of the SSL presented by Eurotel as official hotel and Victory Liner as office transport provider, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education.
“Lahat ng teams dito sa Shakey’s, naghanda talaga so kailangan i-respeto namin lahat ng kalaban,” said Lady Spikers deputy mentor Noel Orcullo as La Salle emerges as team to beat in the nationwide tilt.
Only Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (0-2) so far from General Santos City in Pool D is out of contention, making the last playdate a waiting game for CESAFI champion University of San Jose Recoletos (1-1) in Pool B and Jose Maria College Foundation (1-1) in Pool C to determine their fates.
While all eyes are on the big guns from the UAAP and the NCAA, unheralded squads like the USJR from Cebu and the JMCF from Davao have proven their worth so far in the historic joust also backed by Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Summit Bottled Water, Genius Sports, Potato Corner, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar, and R&B Tea.
USJR took down Luzon bet La Salle-Dasma, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, while JMCF stunned NCAA runner-up Lyceum via reverse sweep, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 26-24, to stay in playoff contention.
All SSL matches are accessible across all platforms live and on-demand with Plus Network Digital Media Services, CNN Philippines, Solar Sports Entertainment and TAP Sports serving as media partners.
The historic National Invitationals, with support from Boy Tuikinhoy of Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc., Alex Adeva of Northern Mindanao Volleyball Association of Coaches and Referees and San Juan Red Cross chapter, are also showing live in all Shakey’s branches nationwide.
Games on Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
9 a.m. – La Salle vs University of Southern Philippines Foundation
12 p.m. – Lyceum vs Adamson
2 p.m. – La Salle-Dasma vs UST
4 p.m. – Enderun vs College of St. Benilde