University of Santo Tomas braces for a challenging preseason campaign as the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals brings together two NCAA squads, a NAASCU team, and two international clubs.
Joining the Golden Tigresses are reigning NCAA champions Letran Lady Knights, the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers, and the Enderun Colleges Lady Titans, who will test their mettle against guest teams Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam and Australia’s Southern Storm Melbourne.
Opening day action features the Lady Knights taking on the Australians at 1 p.m., followed by the Golden Tigresses facing the Lady Titans at 3 p.m.
The Lady Blazers then cap off the opening day against the Vietnamese club at 5 p.m. in the weeklong tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R&B Milk Tea.
Fresh off their NCAA Season 101 championship, Letran will parade its title-winning core led by Judiel Nitura, Verenicce Colendra, and Joralyn Panangin.
The Lady Knights, however, will be without veterans Gia Maquillang and Vanessa Sarie, who are sidelined with knee and right shoulder injuries, respectively.
“Ang biggest goal namin is to become a better team every game. We want to maximize this opportunity against strong local and international teams, kasi may mga makakalaban tayong teams from Australia and Vietnam,” Lady Knights assistant coach Mayeth Carolino said.
“Malalakas din ang mga local teams kasi nandyan ang Benilde and UST and may Enderun pa so kailangan naming magpursige dito sa National Invitationals. Malaking opportunity na makasali rito,” she added.
College of Saint Benilde head coach Jerry Yee, meanwhile, will showcase a new-look Lady Blazers squad as they begin their title bid in the tournament supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com, and Smart Sports.
“Marami kaming nawala from last year. Marami tayong susubukan ngayon. Marami tayong titingnan. So hopefully, makapag-compete tayo. Hopefully, maganda ang performance namin,” said Yee, who will lean on Kai Lleses and NCAA Season 101 Rookie of the Year Cam Bartolome.
After leading UST High School to a breakthrough title in the 2026 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 and earning Most Valuable Player honors two months ago, Kim Rubin looks to make an immediate impact with the Golden Tigresses.
UST will also field veteran standouts Angge Poyos, Regina Jurado, Avril Bron, and Marga Altea.
Enderun Colleges, meanwhile, is grateful for the opportunity to compete against some of the country’s top collegiate programs.
“Isang malaking karalangan ang makasali rito. Malaaking tulong ito para magkaroon kami ng exposure against sa mga UAAP and NCAA teams and also may international flavor din. And of course, gusto naming ipakita na may volleyball program ang Enderun,” Lady Titans head coach Dong Dela Cruz said.
Both visiting clubs also vowed to provide a stern challenge for the local teams.
“Our team will try our best and see how far we’ll be able to go in the tournament. We just want to demonstrate our best,” Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club head coach Huinn Do Hong Loan said.
Southern Storm Melbourne head coach Carlo Pacioni added that his team is eager to experience the Philippine style of volleyball.
“We want to experience a different flavor of volleyball here in the Philippines. We expect the style to be different in what we play and I think we are very eager for the challenge to keep up with it,” he said.
The six teams will compete in a single-round elimination format, with the top four advancing to the knockout semifinals. The bottom two teams will play in the classification round.
Both the championship match and the battle for third place will be winner-take-all.
All games of the tournament, backed by technical partners the Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, and Team Rebel Sports, will be available live and on demand via the PusoP.com livestream and Solar Sports.
