A record-setting 30 teams will participate in the third staging of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL), unfurling on 28 May at the La Salle Green Hills gym.

The highly anticipated high school volleyball tournament, featuring bets from Metro Manila and other regions, promises to be one for the books.

Twenty schools, led by repeat-seeking Adamson University, will duke it out in Division 1, and 10 new teams will clash in Division 2.

“We have additional teams joining our regular tournament and what’s new this year, in celebration of Shakey’s golden anniversary, is that we’re now having a Division 2. Since the start of the GVIL, numerous schools have expressed interest in participating, but with our format in the past two years, we could only accommodate a limited number of teams,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc. (ACES).

“But what’s good about it is that we work on expanding each year. From 16 teams during our inaugural edition, we had 18 last season, and this time, a total of 20 teams will be participating in Division 1. Plus, we now have a Division 2, where we can give other schools an avenue for development and exposure. And as an added incentive, the top two teams in Division 2 will be invited to join Division 1 next year.”

The Lady Baby Falcons, who defeated Bacolod Tay Tung in last season’s finale, are bunched with Lyceum of the Philippines University, Naga College Foundation, Emilio Aguinaldo College and University of Perpetual Help in Pool A of Division 1.

Pool B is composed of Bacolod Tay Tung, Bethel Academy, De La Salle-Lipa, Chiang Kai Shek College and Holy Rosary College while in Pool C are Kings’ Montessori High School, Arellano University, Corpus Christi School, inaugural champion California Academy and De La Salle-Zobel A.

Reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) titlist National University Nazareth School, Far Eastern University-Diliman, St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, University of the Philippines Integrated School and University of Santo Tomas are in Pool D.

In Division 2, Pool E has La Salle Green Hills, Miriam College, De La Salle-Zobel B, Everest International Academy and Assumption College-San Lorenzo while in Pool F are Assumption-Antipolo, St. Paul College-Pasig, St. Theresa College-QC, Domuschola International School and Immaculate Conception Academy.

Division 1 preliminary round matches in the grassroots volleyball league will be played in best-of-three sets. All frames, including the deciding set, will be played up to 25 points.

The top two teams in each group in the pool play will advance to the knockout quarterfinal. The knockout semifinal and final matches will be played in best-of-five sets.