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| (Image Source: Spikers' Turf) |
The Spikers’ Turf is all set to elevate its game and captivate fans with a promising new season featuring nine formidable teams led by defending champion Cignal in the highly anticipated Open Conference unveiling on March 13, 2024 at the Paco Arena in Manila. In a move to broaden its reach and enhance mainstream appeal, the organizing Sports Vision Management Group Inc. said that games will be held not only at the Paco Arena but also at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, and at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
Tournament director Mozzy Ravena expressed enthusiasm about the growth and vision for the men’s volley league, while emphasizing the league’s commitment to providing fans with a more extensive and thrilling tournament. “It’s going to be a bigger and more exciting men’s tournament. To many of us here, it was just a dream before. Pangarap lang talaga dahil as much as we appreciate the women’s game na tumaas like yung popularity,” said Ravena during the league’s inaugural press conference held last March 8, 2024 at Discovery Suites Ortigas. “That is the vision that we’ve always had years and years ago. Internationally, alam niyo naman ang men’s game is really popular, so it’s about time na tayo rin sumunod na,” she added.
The teams set to challenge Cignal’s crack for another championship include D’Navigators, Maverick, PGJC-Navy, Philippine Air Force, RichMarc Sports, Savouge Aesthetics, VNS Nasty and the newly-formed Criss Cross. Spikers’ Turf president Alyssa Valdez, the Creamline’s ace player in the Premier Volleyball League, highlighted the solidity of the participating teams this year. "One thing that’s different this year is very solid yung mga teams – with definitely quality games. Hopefully, yan din ang maging reason ng fans bakit sila manunuod, susuportahan, at maa-appreciate ang men’s volleyball,” said Valdez. The Spikers' Turf Open Conference 2024 begins with single-round robin preliminaries with the top four advancing to the semifinals, also a single-round robin phase with the top two disputing the championship and the bottom two clashing for the bronze, both in best-of-three series.
To ensure widespread coverage, games will be aired live every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on One Sports (analog free TV channel 41, digital free TV channel 18.3, Cignal channel 6, SKYcable channel 59) and One Sports+ (Cignal SD channel 91 and HD channel 261) with streaming available live and on-demand on the Pilipinas Live App as well as on Cignal Play. Cignal TV Vice President for Channels and Content Management Sienna Olaso assured fans of an engaging broadcast plan, emphasizing the importance of an optimal game schedule for a seamless viewing experience. Games will also be available on-demand on Spikers' Turf's official YouTube channel hours after their live broadcast.
