MANILA – Ten teams will battle for supremacy in the 2024 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference kicks off on Oct. 16.
Matches are scheduled every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, at the Ynares Sports Arena and Philsports Arena in Pasig City, and the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Participating are last season's Invitational Conference runners-up and reigning Open Conference champions Cignal HD Spikers, Criss Cross King Crunchers, D’Navigators Iloilo, and the PGJC Navy Sealions.
Also joining are the Savouge Aesthetics Spin Doctors, VNS Griffins, Chichi DHTSI Titans (formerly Richmarc Sports 3B Elite), Martelli Meats Masters Butcher (formerly Maverick Hard Hitters), and UAAP powerhouses Far Eastern University-DN Steel Ultras and De La Salle University-EcoOil Green Oilers, who finished 1-2 in the 2024 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge.
"With 10 teams competing this season, including two collegiate squads, fans can expect an exciting tournament. This is a huge opportunity for our athletes to shine, and it will significantly contribute to the continued growth of men's volleyball in the country," Spikers' Turf president Alyssa Valdez said in a statement released to the media on Thursday.
The tournament will run until Dec. 15.
The preliminary round has a round-robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. They will be joined by a guest team for another round-robin setup, and the top two teams will meet in a winner-take-all final.
"It’s a great development for the sport that we're getting prime-time slots. This will boost visibility, helping men’s volleyball gain the recognition and audience it deserves," Spikers' Turf tournament director Mozzy Ravena said.
Meanwhile, Cignal TV, Inc. First Vice President and head for Channels and Content Management Sienna Olaso is committed to give exposure to men's volleyball.
"Cignal is excited to bring unprecedented coverage to this year’s Invitational Conference. This is part of our commitment to help men’s volleyball flourish by covering all games of the Spikers’ Turf and making their games available not only locally but globally through the Pilipinas Live app. More than ever, men’s volleyball needs all our support especially with the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship set to take place here in Manila," Olaso said.
Fans can catch all the action live on One Sports, One Sports+, and through the Pilipinas Live app, which will feature video-on-demand content. (PNA)
