MANILA – With the departure of last year's MVP Shaina Nitura, Adamson University can only hope for the best in the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) set to kick off at the La Salle Green Hills gym on May 28.

Led by Nitura, the Lady Baby Falcons completed a six-game sweep to claim victory in the country’s premier grassroots volleyball tournament.

Head coach JP Yude is left with a young crew who will face a tough challenge in their title defense.

“It’s going to be a big test for us. The challenge for us is how to adjust in every situation and every game because we have new players, especially some of them are very young,” commented Yude during the launch of the league’s third season at Shakey’s Malate on Friday.

Skipper Abegail Segui, Lhouriz Tuddao, and UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year Ellaine Gonzalvo will banner Adamson, which is in Pool A of Division 1, along with Lyceum of the Philippines University, Naga College Foundation, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and University of Perpetual Help.

Bacolod Tay Tung, last year’s runner-up, is in Pool B with Bethel Academy, De La Salle-Lipa, Chiang Kai Shek College, and Holy Rosary College while in Pool C are Kings’ Montessori High School, Arellano University, Corpus Christi School, inaugural champion California Academy, and De La Salle-Zobel A.

In Pool D are defending UAAP champion National University Nazareth School, Far Eastern University-Diliman, St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, University of the Philippines Integrated School, and University of Santo Tomas.

A record 30 teams are competing in the tournament, which will have a Division 2 with 10 teams divided into two groups.

“This just signifies that through Shakey’s GVIL, we can raise awareness of the sport at the grassroots level. It has drawn interest not only from the kids but also from their parents and schools, which is why we’re expanding each year,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president of event organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc.

Shakey’s Super League (SSL) brand ambassador, three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen, and Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. marketing manager Rej Asa also attended the launch.

“We are also grateful to Shakey’s for its all-out support in the sport of volleyball. Its impact, support, and relevance in local volleyball helped develop the sport in the country, producing talents that have found success here and abroad,” Laurel said.

Meanwhile, the SSL Volleyball Summer Camp has opened at the Trevi Executive Village in Marikina, running from May 20 to 23 and 26 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Another camp will be staged at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan City, Laguna from May 26 to 30. (PNA)