Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine Superliga (PSL) celebrates its second anniversary with more firsts when it introduces the PLDT Home Ultera-Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup on July 18.
It is also leading the formation of a regional tournament set to fire off soon.
The corporate club beach volleyball tournament, SuperLiga president Ramon Suzara said, will help establish the Philippines as among the most active volleyball centers in Southeast Asia as his Score team sets its eyes on establishing a regional women’s volleyball tournament together with club leagues from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia in the near future.
Suzara bared only the finishing touches are needed before the regional tourney kicks off with the Philippines battling its Southeast Asian rivals in an ultimate battle for volleyball supremacy.
No less than Shanrit Wongprasert, Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Executive vice president, is in the forefront of this endeavor and is set to fly to Manila together with club league officials of Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia in September to sign the agreement and discuss the mechanics of the regional tourney.
The regional tournament has yet to come up with an official name, but Suzara guaranteed that it will be patterned after the largely successful Asean Basketball League (ABL) where the Philippines used to have a team.
“As the Philippine Superliga reaches its second year, it is only fitting that we increase the level of competition of volleyball in the country,” said Suzara, who is a member of the AVC executive council.
“This is an important milestone for Philippine volleyball. Not only we get the foreign exposure we badly need, but we also improve our relationship with our Southeast Asian neighbors that makes the transfer of technology much easier for our officials, coaches and players. I’m sure this endeavor will benefit everyone — even the volleyball-loving Filipinos.”
Aside from being the pioneer in organizing the men’s division, the PSL was also the first to bring in powerful reinforcements from Russia, United States, Brazil and China.
