But first, here’s the lineup for the upcoming Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference
REINFORCED CONFERENCE
We all know that every year Shakey’s V-League always had their Reinforced Conference, their last conference of this season I think. It is the time of the conference where the participating teams are allowed to draw and invite some imports and guest players coming inside and outside of our country. As this season’s open conference is a conference to watch out for because of the new names of the import invited to play in this conference and the twist and turns that revamped and give some teams changes in their lineups.
WHAT’S NEW?
Every conference, we always watch for new faces and new teams. And for this conference, there are new faces and a new team. One of the new teams who will debut their V-League Title Stint is the Bureau of Customs. The mentioned BOC team is compose of some young players, veteran , import and well-known players such as Alyssa Valdez. The surprising resettlement of the Phenom is a big surprise specially to the fans of Bali Pure Water Defenders.
Philippine Coast Guard is not a new team but for their lineup for this year’s reinforced conference consists of young and new faces.
POCARI SWEAT LADY WARRIORS
The Defending Champions.
So far, they are the crowd early favorites not just because they are the defending champion but for their lineup as well. Skill-wise, Offense-wise and defense-wise, those were just the strength of this team and I think their imports can amplify and strengthen the power of this team. In my point of view, the imports are just their to be the back up players of this team, their locals are offensively and defensively talented.
For this conference, I think they can won their First-ever reinforced conference Championship trophy and their 2-in a row championship reign in Shakey’s V-League.
PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE LADY JET SPIKERS
The Runners-up.
For this conference, PAF Lady Jet Spikers will fill in an All-Filipino lineup. I remember last SVL 13 Open Conference, If I’m not mistaken they swept the elimination round and fell short to the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors in their Finals Match-up.
For me they just need to improve their maturity and confidence in the court because I observed during their Final Game against Pocari, they lack focus whenever Pocari makes a run and they just scramble and lack communication during the last set. They need to adjust in terms of defense, now imports are coming in this conference.
BALI PURE WATER DEFENDERS
The Third wheel.
A lot of adjustments must be done in this team specially they lost some of their players like Janine Marciano who shifted to Cignal HD Spikers in PSL, Gretchel Soltones who shifted to Laoag Spikers, and one of their ace player, Alyssa Valdez who shifted to the newbie Bureau of Customs team. But in spite of losing 3 ace players, there are some players who can replace them, this conference, some former PLDT Ultrafast Hitters ace players will have their debut game as new Bali Pure water Defenders stunners liker Sue Roces and Sasa Devanadera. With the entry of Roces and Devanadera plus the entry of their 2 imports, expect a more powerful Bali Pure.
In the last Open Conference, they lost their semis against Pocari because of their number of errors committed during their semis match up. They were almost at the top of the standing during the eliminations but during the semis, errors piled up and let them to settle in 3rd place.
They really need to work on their consistency. Now that former PLDT stunners sutied up for them, it will be an advantage for them to have more strength in their offense and defense.
UP LADY MAROONS
The Now You See Me Team.
From bottom to a podium finish, that’s the story of this squad from Diliman. This is a young team and it has a lot future in the names of Isa Molde, Diana Carlos, Marian Buitre, and Justine Dorog. While veterans Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon will still suit up for them. Expect a more improve and more powerful UP Lady Maroons, together with their Thai reinforcement, their goal is to have a podium finish again after finishing 3rd last Collegiate Conference.
LAOAG
The Revelation.
For me, Laoag is one of the underdog team in the SVL Open Conference. But for me, this team is a team to watch for this season as NCAA MVP and former Bali Pure Stunner, Gretchel Soltones and NU stunners, Aiko Urdas and Jorelle Singh will join this Laoag team together with Jema Galanza and Jovelyn Prado. Chie Saet, their setter has lots of option in their offense, unluckily, Mylene Paat and Fenela Emnas will not suit up for them this season as Paat will play in PSL for Cignal HD Spikers.
The question is, how Saet will maximize her team mates in spite of not having a reinforced/import player?
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
The Underdogs.
Their last stint in the SVL Open Conference last year wasn’t that successful and for this year’s Reinforced conference they will suit for a revamped lineup. This may be a young team and for me it is one of the teams to watch for and how they will play in spite of losing some veteran player like Rossan Fajardo. Let’s see who’ll step up for the Lady Dolphins this season.
UST GOLDEN TIGRESSES
The Never Give Up Team.
The UST Golden Tigresses are still looking for another SVL Crown. As per Coach Kung Fu, they will not have any import for this conference but instead they will use this Reinforced Conference as one of their preparations for the upcoming UAAP. They may not reach the semis last Collegiate conference, but now their veteran players are back to suit up for the Espana-based squad. As Chloe Cortez, Ej Laure, Riri Meneses and Cherry Rondina skipped their PSL stint for their mother team, UST. They have improved players, I’m excited to watch Chloe Cortez on how she will perform in this conference, remember she was a surprise for Coach Francis in the stint of Generika Life Savers in PSL and she was one of the 10 top scorers in the said league. With no imports. they gonna lean on their veterans.
In addition, Pam Lastimosa who just recovered from her injury last year will suit again for the Spikers from Espana.
BUREAU OF CUSTOMS
The Newbie.
This is a team to watch for, not just because they are a debuting team in the league but of their lineup as well. As the Multitled Phenom, Alyssa Valdez will suit up for them. As SVL released tentative lineup, many are asking, “Sino ang libero ng BOC?” this is still questionable up to now. A lot of new names are included in this team so I considered them as a young yet developing team for now. With their 2-imports, I’m excited to see this team play with Valdez and hoping they overcome the criticism of some that Valdez will only lift this team and this team is not a competing team this season.
Spiker's Entity 