To spice up the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 this summer, organizers are looking at the possibility of having all participating teams reinforced by a foreign player. If the plan pushes through, it will mark for the first time since the league was established in 2004 that each team will have an import.
Ricky Palou, the tournament director, said 10 schools will comprise the season-opening conference, and so far only three teams have imports: Ateneo, San Sebastian College and Lyceum.
The three teams are the same schools among the field of eight that have Thai players as import.
But having a Thai import is not a guarantee to win the title as proven by Adamson University, which ruled the last conference by beating the Excelroof-backed San Sebastian College.
“We will ask them (the remaining seven teams) if they need help in finding imports. Maybe we can recommend or provide them. Or if they can get theirs, the league will subsidize (the imports’ allowance and travel expenses),” Palou said.
While the plan for each team to have import will benefit the league as it will attract more fans, Palou said he expects other teams to oppose the idea.
Not that teams cannot provide one, but because some squads are formidable and comfortable enough playing with home grown talents.
University of Santo Tomas holds 99the distinction as the most successful team in the league, having won six championships in seven years.
Yet, not a single conference did UST fielded an import.
Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin
