THE National Grassroots Volleyball League (NGVL), which provides female players 16 years and below another platform to showcase their skills, will hold its National Finals from May 3 to 7 at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.
Fourteen teams representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and a couple representing international communities fielding players with Filipino lineage, will see action in the National Finals of the NGVL’s inaugural season.
Yvette Katigbak-Ambrocio, NGVL president, said the young league aims to give young players the opportunity to be exposed to high-quality competition because “they are the next superstars.
“‘Yan ang pangarap namin sa NGVL, na mapuntahan ang buong Pilipinas at lahat ng gusto maglaro ng volleyball,” Katigbak-Ambrocio said in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission media room.
Aside from the NCR teams, there will be entries from Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Bacolod, Bicol, Laguna, Baguio, Pangasinan and as far as New Zealand courtesy of the Filspikerz Volleyball Club of New Zealand.
Also gracing the weekly forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus, were NGVL operations head Froi Ambrocio, Santo Tomas coach Kungfu Reyes, and players Apple Saquilayan of Immaculate Concepcion Academy, Zeianne Laborte of La Salle Zobel and Ghen Carreon of the club from New Zealand.
“This is our first season and we’re very happy to be doing this for the young players. This is something we are very passionate about,” said Katigbak-Ambrocio, adding that the NGVL also provides a chance to discover players for the national team.
While there are other leagues catering to players 16-under, the NVGL is determined to serve its purpose.
“There’s room for everybody. Mas maraming liga para sa mga bata, mas maganda para sa volleyball,” Katigbak-Ambrocio added.
“Malaking opportunity ito para sa mga bata especially from public schools aspiring na maglaro then also mga clubs. Magandang platform. Madaming matutulungan,” said Reyes.
