The 2023 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference was the seventeenth conference and the end of the sixth season of the Spikers' Turf. The tournament began from October 20 to December 15, 2023, at the Paco Arena, Paco, Manila.
This was the inaugural Invitational conference of the league, with a format similar to the Premier Volleyball League. This is the first conference where a foreign club, Maruichi Hyogo of Japan, participated in the league.
The Sta. Elena-NU Nationals beat the Cignal HD Spikers in a thrilling 5-setter knockout match in the finals, the first of its kind in the history of the league. The visiting Maruichi Hyogo then bagged the bronze medal after defeating Saints and Lattes-Letran in another five-set match. Vince Himzon of Letran clinched the MVP of the Conference, and Jade Disquitado was awarded the MVP of the Finals.
Participating teams
A total of twenty-five teams participated in this conference. Twenty-four of these teams are local, some of which had its core players from the UAAP and NCAA, and then sponsored by corporate/companies. For the first time in the league's history, they catered to a foreign guest team in Maruichi Hyogo of Japan, which had a bye to the semifinals and faced the top four local teams of the conference. Abbr. Team Affiliation Head coach Team captain APH Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Alpha Omega Elite Edjet Mabbayad Kim TanADMU Ateneo-Fudgee Barr Blue Eagles Ateneo de Manila University / Republic Biscuit Corporation Timmy Sto. Tomas Lance Andrei De CastroCAB Cabstars–Cabuyao Cabuyao City Christian Antiporta Aljune CentenoCHD Cignal HD Spikers Cignal TV, Inc. Dexter Clamor Ysay MarasiganFEU Chef on a Diet-FEU Tamaraws Chef on a Diet / Far Eastern University Eddieson Orcullo Jefferson AbuniawanDNV D' Navigators Iloilo Iloilo City Boyet Delmoro John Michael ApolinarioADU Davies Paint-Adamson Soaring Falcons Davies Paints Philippines / Adamson University George Pascua John Eugenio GayDLSD Don Pacundo-DLSU Dasmariñas Patriots Don Pacundo Sportswear / De La Salle University – Dasmariñas Jerome Roland Mirano Valeriano SasisEAC EAC-Xentromall Generals ARMC Holdings Company, Inc. / Emilio Aguinaldo College Rodrigo Palmero Bhim Lawrence DionesDLSU EcoOil-La Salle Green Oilers Eco Oil Ltd. / De La Salle University Jose Monsol Roque John Mark RonquilloSBU MKA-San Beda Red Spikers MKA / San Beda University Ariel Dela Cruz Aidjien Josh RusPCU PCU Dasmariñas-SASKIN Dolphins Philippine Christian University Dasmariñas / SASKIN Reygan Espera Lan Carlo AgatepUPHSD Perpetual-Kinto Altas University of Perpetual Help System DALTA / Kinto Tyres Philippines Sammy Acaylar John Christian EnarcisoPGJC PGJC-Navy Sea Lions Philippine Navy Cecille Cruzada Marvin HairamiPAF Philippine Air Force Airmen Philippine Air Force Jhimson Merza Rodolfo LabradorPAT Philippine Army Troopers Philippine Army Melvin Carolino Benjaylo LabidePCG Philippine Coast Guard Lifesavers Philippine Coast Guard John Sen Rivadenera John Kevin Dela VegaCSJL Saints and Lattes-Letran Saints Spikers Saints and Lattes Cafè / Colegio de San Juan de Letran Brian Esquibel Raxel Redd CatrisSRC Santa Rosa City Lions Sta. Rosa City Edward Jan Lirio Harvey QuezadaSAV Savouge RTU-Basilan Golden Thunders Savouge Aesthetics Philippines / RTU-Basilan Sabtbl Abdul Jhon Lorenz Señoron CSB St. Gerard Construction-Benilde Blazing Builders St. Gerard Construction / De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde Arnold Laniog Bryle GomezNU Sta. Elena-NU Bulldogs Sta. Elena Construction / National University Dante Alinsunurin Ave Joshua RetamarLPU The Bayleaf Hotels-Lyceum Pirates The Bayleaf Hotels / Lyceum of the Philippines University Paul Jan Dolorias Jun EdangVNS VNS Griffins VNS Management Group Ralph Ocampo Philip Michael Bagalay MAR Maruichi Hyogo Maruichi Co., Ltd. / Hyogo Prefectural U.V.F. Kota Kunichika Hinata Kuroda
Pools composition
Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D Ateneo-Fudgee Barr Blue Eagles Cabstars–Cabuyao Cignal HD Spikers Alpha Omega Elite Spikers D' Navigators Iloilo EcoOil-La Salle Green Oilers Davies Paint-Adamson Soaring Falcons Chef on a Diet-FEU Tamaraws Don Pacundo-DLSU Dasmariñas Patriots MKA-San Beda Red Spikers Philippine Coast Guard Lifesavers EAC-Xentromall Generals Perpetual-Kinto Altas PCU Dasmariñas-SASKIN Dolphins Saints and Lattes-Letran Saints Spikers PGJC-Navy Sea Lions Philippine Army Troopers Philippine Air Force Airmen Santa Rosa City Lions Savouge RTU-Basilan Golden Thunders Sta. Elena-NU Nationals VNS Griffins St. Gerard Construction-Benilde Blazing Builders The Bayleaf Hotels-Lyceum Pirates
Venues Preliminary round Final round Manila San Juan Pasig Paco Arena Filoil EcoOil Centre PhilSports Arena Capacity: 1,000 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 10,000
Transactions Team additions and transfers
The following are the players who transferred to another team for the upcoming conference.
Player Moving from Moving to Anfernee CuramenArellano Chiefs Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Arman Clarence Guinto Arellano Chiefs Alpha Omega Elite Spikers France Lander Racaza FEU Tamaraws Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Ivan EncilaArellano Chiefs Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Jan Laurence Teo NCBA Wildcats Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Jethro CabillanArellano Chiefs Alpha Omega Elite Spikers John Carlo Desuyo Vanguard Volley Hitters Alpha Omega Elite Spikers John Daniel Diwa Vanguard Volley Hitters Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Kim Vincent TanArellano Chiefs Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Michael Jhon Fortuna NU-Sta. Elena Ball Hammers Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Razzel Palisoc Vanguard Volley Hitters Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Ricardo Alfaro Vanguard Volley Hitters Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Stephen John Sundiang Ateneo Blue Knights Alpha Omega Elite Spikers Edward Camposano AMC Cotabato Spikers PGJC Navy Sea Lions
Rosters
Format Preliminary round In the preliminary round, teams were split into four pools of six. The preliminary round was a single round-robin tournament involving all 24 local teams, with each team playing one match against all other teams in their pool for a total of five matches. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals while the bottom four were eliminated.
Quarterfinals Semifinals The semifinals was also a single round-robin, now including the international guest team. Each team played a total of four matches during this round. The top two teams advanced to the championship while teams ranked third and fourth would play in the third-place series. The fifth-place team was eliminated.
Finals The championship and third-place series were single-elimination matches. The match-ups were as follows: Championship: SF#1 vs. SF#2 Third-place series: SF#3 vs. SF#4
Pool standing procedure First, teams are ranked by the number of matches won. If the number of matches won is tied, the tied teams are then ranked by match points, wherein: Match won 3–0 or 3–1: 3 match points for the winner, 0 match points for the loser. Match won 3–2: 2 match points for the winner, 1 match point for the loser. In case of any further ties, the following criteria shall be used: Set ratio: the number of sets won divided by number of sets lost. Point ratio: number of points scored divided by number of points allowed. Head-to-head standings: any remaining tied teams are ranked based on the results of head-to-head matches involving the teams in question.
Preliminary round All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+08:00). Pool A
Pool B
Pool C
Pool D
Final round All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00).
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals 3rd place match
Championship match
Awards
AwardPlayerTeamFinals Most Valuable Player Jade Disquitado Sta. Elena-NUConference Most Valuable Player Vince Himzon Saints and Lattes-Letran1st Best Outside Spiker Joshua Umandal Cignal2nd Best Outside Spiker John Bautista Saints and Lattes-Letran1st Best Middle Blocker John Paul Bugaoan Cignal2nd Best Middle Blocker Vince Himzon Saints and Lattes-LetranBest Opposite Spiker Leo Ordiales Sta. Elena-NUBest Setter Joshua Retamar Sta. Elena-NUBest Libero Manuel Sumanguid III Cignal
Final standings
Rank Team Sta. Elena-NU Nationals Cignal HD Spikers Maruichi Hyogo 4Saints and Lattes-Letran Saints Spikers 5Perpetual-Kinto Altas 6Chef on a Diet-FEU Tamaraws 7Cabstars–Cabuyao 8PGJC-Navy Sea Lions 9EcoOil-La Salle Green Oilers 10VNS Griffins 11Philippine Army Troopers 12Davies Paint-Adamson Soaring Falcons 13Savouge RTU-Basilan Golden Thunders 14D' Navigators Iloilo 15EAC-Xentromall Generals 16MKA-San Beda Red Spikers 17St. Gerard Construction-Benilde Blazing Builders 18Philippine Air Force Airmen 19Ateneo-Fudgee Barr Blue Eagles 20Alpha Omega Elite Spikers 21Santa Rosa City Lions 22Don Pacundo-DLSU Dasmariñas Patriots 23PCU Dasmariñas-SASKIN Dolphins 24The Bayleaf Hotels-Lyceum Pirates 25Philippine Coast Guard Lifesavers
Team roster: Nico Almendras, Greg Augustus Luis Ancheta, Michael Jonas Hernandez, Jan Llanfred Abanilla, Michaelo Buddin, Kharylle Rhoy Parce, John Mariano Sumagui, Louis Emmanuel Lumanlan, Obed Mukaba, Jade Disquitado, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Joshua Retamar (c), John Vincent Estrada, Clarenz Belostrino, Leo Ordiales, Leo Aringo Jr., Joelbert Doromal, Jenngerard Arnfranz Diao, Mac Arvin Bandola, Jimwell GapultosHead coach:Dante Alinsunurin
See also 2023 Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference
References