Foreign teams to field standouts with Filipino roots in NGVL national finals
There’s going to be a lot to look forward to in the coming national finals of the National Grassroots Volleyball League (NGVL) this May, when some of the best young talents of the country showcase their skills and show their potential to be part of the sport’s future.
Aside from the top local talents, the national finals will feature three foreign teams that will field players with Filipino roots eager to strut their stuff in the country for the first time.
“We’re looking forward to the upcoming national finals here in Manila as the three foreign teams signified their intention to play, and that brings the competition to another level as they will be up against our homegrown local teams,” said league president Yvette Katigbak-Ambrocio.
Seeing action in the national finals are the FilSpikerz Volleyball Club, which is based in Auckland, New Zealand, the Dubai-based Sentrix Falcons and the Abu Dhabi Volleyball Club.
“We’re proud of the interest that the league has generated, to the point that the foreign teams will be accompanied by supporters who have already booked plane tickets and hotel rooms so they can support their clubs,” added Amborcio, saying the participation helps boost the country’s recent sports tourism growth.
Two more teams, one from the United States and another from Italy, also sought out spots in the tournament, but scheduling conflicts prevented them from joining this year’s edition.
“But come next season, we will work on a better schedule to accommodate more teams from abroad,” Ambrocio said.
Having the three clubs join the local qualifiers in the national finals further boosts the NGVL goal of becoming a key talent pipeline for volleyball in the country.
Launched in December last year by The Lighthouse Group, the NGVL aims to provide a platform for girls under 16 to showcase their skills and get a feel of big-time national competitions. The league also hopes to develop future standouts for the national program.
“The best thing about the foreign participation is that the girls who will compete are all under 16, which makes it easier to get them Filipino passports if they show potential to be national team players,” NGVL operations director Froi Ambrocio said.
Among the young prospects in the NGVL, are members of the Alas Pilipinas who competed in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s U16 Championships in Jordan last year: Setters Sab Ambrocio and Resty Olaguir, libero Frances Ramos and hitters Dian Sajulga and Xyz Rayco.
