Three teams get a chance to test their mettles against a powerhouse team from Japan when the Philippine Superliga holds a preseason tournament at the Imus City Sports Center in Imus City starting Monday.
Sta. Lucia, Cignal and Generika-Ayala are tipped to parade their overhauled rosters against a selection team from West Japan University in this pocket tourney that serves as the opening salvo of the most prestigious women’s volleyball league in the country.
Mika Reyes will get a first taste of action in Sta. Lucia’s jersey while Rhea Dimaculangan makes her debut for Generika-Ayala in this event that is co-hosted by the city government of Imus headed by Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi.
Aside from serious competition, the league and the city will also display their “bayanihan spirit” as they provide aid to the victims of the recent Taal Volcano eruption.
With that, instead of selling tickets, organizers will give free access to the games in exchange for relief goods like used clothes, canned goods, bottled water and facemasks.
“There are around 1,500 families who evacuated to our city from nearby areas affected by the explosion of Taal Volcano,” Maliksi said.
“We laud the PSL for coming up with the idea of turning this event into a relief drive for the victims of the volcano eruption. Aside from giving fans a glimpse of what to expect in the upcoming PSL Grand Prix, they are also helping those in need.”
Aside from giving free tickets in exchange for donations, PSL stars from other teams like Petron, Marinerang Pilipina, PLDT Home Fibr, Chery Tiggo and F2 Logistics as well as two key players from the Japanese squad will also auction their respective jerseys to raise fund for the evacuees on Wednesday.
Prior to that, the Japanese players will visit the evacuees to personally hand their donations on Tuesday.
PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said this is their way of giving it back to the community.
“This is our way of helping those in need,” said Juico, the former Philippine Sports Commission chairman who now leads the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.
“We are lucky to have the city of Imus as our partner in this very noble endeavor.”