Girls face new styles, tougher tests at Shakey's Invitationals

Players and coaches along with executives for the 2026 Shakey’s Juniors National Invitationals. –HANDOUT PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas and two foreign squads headline the inaugural 2026 Shakey’s Juniors National Invitationals starting Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Seven teams, including the California-based Perfect Set Dream Makers and Guam’s Pacific Volleyball Academy, clash for Shakey’s first-ever national girls’ title.

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“We’re looking forward to is just getting the girls’ exposure in a new country, letting them play a different type of team, playing just a different level of volleyball,” said Perfect Set coach Mackenzie Dorney.

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“I think that having that experience will be super beneficial for them in the future, and even going to a new place or just playing different types of teams that play a different style of volleyball.”

The seven teams are the Perfect Set from California, Pacific Volleyball Academy Inc from Guam, UST, One La Salle, Pusong Azul, Arellano University High School and St John’s Institute competing fron July 11 to 18 at Filoil Arena. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/JZKK58jefw

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) July 10, 2026

UST takes on Arellano at 1 p.m. on opening day.

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The UST Junior Golden Tigresses had only six remaining members from the team that completed a breakthrough Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 conquest three months ago.

UST banks on top setter Andreaj Tan Chun Bing, Nicole Pelaez, Eliz Menchavez and libero Chas Pepito, gunning for a second straight title.

“Our lineup right now is different from that of the SGVIL. Almost 3/4 of our team in this Invitational are new players. Most are just incoming Grade 11,” UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez said.

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“Here in the Invitationals, we want to see how our new players will react to competition and how they adapt to our system.”

In other matches, Pusong Azul, composed of Ateneo players, battles Pacific Volleyball Academy, while St. John’s Institute tackles One La Salle, led by varsity players from De La Salle Zobel, Green Hills and Dasmarinas.

Arellano University and Pacific Volleyball Academy return to action in the nightcap of the competition.

Dr. Ian Laurel on staging the Shakey’s Juniors National Invitational for the first time with two foreign teams seeing action. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/dbuIU16XKR

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) July 10, 2026

The Dream Makers, whose squad is mostly composed of Filipinos from California, debut on Monday with back-to-back games against One La Salle and UST, respectively.

“Our goal here is really to see how our (local) teams compete with international teams and for those international teams to see how we organize tournaments like these,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president of organizing Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES).

“We want a long-term goal of sharing the same vision with other countries and strengthening the local volleyball program at this level.”

Teams play a single round-robin elimination round, with the top four advancing to the knockout semifinals. Both the final and the battle for bronze are also one-game showdowns.

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Elimination games will be best-of-three sets, while the semis and final matches are best-of-five sets.

On June 19, Shakey’s will kick off the collegiate National Invitationals with six teams.

Foreign teams Ho Chi Minh Volleyball Club of Vietnam and Australian squad Southern Storm Melbourne will take on local squads UST, Enderun Colleges, Letran College, and College of Saint Benilde.