MANILA – Bacolod City Tarags aims for a better showing in the 2022 Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League, which will kick off this Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Tarags head coach Ralph Savellano said they were hoping to reach at least the Final Four after ending up at fifth place as MRT-Negros squad during the first edition of PNVF last year.
“With more experience, we are hoping na this time makapasok na kami sa Final Four,” Savellano told Panay News on Friday. “Last year, we reached fifth place so we are really aiming na magkaroon ng improvement this time.”
Four players were returning from last year’s roster in University of the Philippines’ Clark Fernandez, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod’s Louie Pudadera, Gadpray Aresgado and Kade Parreño.
There were also four Manila-based players in the lineup in Joven Camaganakan of Perpetual Help-Laguna, Rash Nursiddik of San Beda, Ruvince Abrot of College of St. Benilde and Ronchette Villegas of Far Eastern University.
Completing the Bacolod City Tarags lineup were Jayrack dela Noche, Mario Miguel Eusala, Jessmar Celeste, Deanne Neil De Pedro, Julio Miguel Yu and Timothy John Sellado.
Serving as Savellano’s assistant coaches were Judy Rodriguez, Anna Kathrina Catolico and Jocelyn dela Noche, Atty. Roberto Miguel Gavina as team manager and Fr. Arnold Delantina as team coordinator.
Bacolod City will open its campaign against Sta. Rosa City Lions at 6 p.m. tonight before battling Baguio City on November 7, Army-Taguig City on November 8 and UE-Manila City on November 9.
Top two teams from the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals round slated on November 11, while semifinals round is on November 12 and championship game is on November 13.
Bacolod City Tarags is one of the two Western Visayas-based team in the men’s division aside from Aklan. Overall, there were 23 squads participating in the men’s and women’s division of the week-long event./PN
