MAGBABAKBAKAN ang kabuuang 44 na koponan, kabilang ang isang entry mula sa New Zealand, sa ikaapat na edisyon ng Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup na magsisimula sa Abril 20 sa La Salle Green Hills gym.

Nalampasan ng torneo ang 30 koponang sumali noong nakaraang taon, at inaasahang maghahatid ng mas kapana-panabik at matinding kompetisyon mula sa mga umuusbong na talento sa high school girls volleyball.

Target ng National University-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups na maidepensa ang titulo sa Division 1, na binubuo ng 20 paaralan. Ganito rin ang pakay ng Domuschola International School sa Division 2 na may 24 koponan.

“We’re continuing with having two divisions in the SGVIL. Since the establishment of the second division last year, more schools have approached us and expressed interest in joining the league,” ani Dr. Ian Laurel, pangulo ng Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), sa isang press conference kahapon.

“The teams have grown in number, record numbers. There are now 20 in Division 1 and 24 in Division 2, with a team from New Zealand joining as well,” dagdag pa niya. “So, the interest at the high school level in joining the Shakey’s GVIL has exponentially grown.”

Hinati sa apat na grupo ang mga koponan sa Division 1 na may tig-lilimang teams bawat pool, habang sa Division 2 ay may apat na pool na may tig-aanim na koponan.

Pinangungunahan ng Lady Bullpups ang Pool A kasama ang King’s Montessori, inaugural champion California Academy, Lyceum of the Philippines Academy, at Bethel Academy.

Nasa Pool B naman ang tatlong beses na runner-up na Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, kasama ang Canossa Academy, Holy Rosary College, University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta, at Immaculate Conception College.

Binubuo ng De La Salle-Lipa, Far Eastern University-Diliman, University of the Philippines Integrated School, San Felipe Neri Catholic School, at St. John’s Institute ang Pool C.

Sa Pool D naman ay  kabilang ang 2024 champion Adamson University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Chiang Kai Shek College, University of Santo Tomas, at De La Salle Santiago-Zobel.

Nanatili ang Domuschola International School sa Division 2 sa hangaring masungkit ang back-to-back titles matapos talunin ang Everest International Academy sa straight sets noong nakaraang taon.

Kasama ng Domuschola sa Pool E ang Miriam College, Corpus Christi School, The Beacon Academy, MGC-New Life Christian Academy, at San Beda University.

Nasa Pool F ang Everest International Academy, La Salle Green Hills, Diverse Auckland Cubs, Saint Pedro Poveda College, St. Theresa’s College-Quezon City, at UST-B. Binubuo naman ng Immaculate Conception Academy-Greenhills, Assumption-Antipolo, NU-Nazareth School Team B, St. Jude Parish School, CCF-The Life Academy, at PACE Academy ang Pool G.

Samantala, nasa Pool H ang St. Paul College-Pasig, La Salle Zobel-B, St. John Institute Team B, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Bacolod Tay Tung Team B, at University of Batangas High School.

Gaganapin ang preliminary round ng parehong dibisyon sa best-of-three sets, kung saan ang lahat ng set, kabilang ang deciding set, ay lalaruin hanggang 25 puntos.

Aakyat sa knockout quarterfinals ang nangungunang dalawang koponan sa bawat pool. Isang laro lamang ang semifinal at finals na lalaruin sa best-of-five sets.

Bilang dagdag na insentibo, iimbitahan ang mga kampeon at runner-up sa parehong dibisyon na sumali sa SGVIL Invitationals kasama ang ilang high school teams mula sa Estados Unidos at isang koponan mula Japan sa Hulyo.

“When it comes to what’s in store for the winners, we are planning a special edition of the SGVIL Invitationals this coming July. We will invite the top two teams in both divisions to play against their U.S. counterparts, who will be arriving this July,” ani Laurel.