sportZtackle

Shakey’s V-League Open Conference in Pictures: Caption Time

17 October 2013 at 3:53 pm

With Game 2 of the Finals slated for this Sunday (October 20th) to be aired LIVE over GMA News TV starting 2:00PM, I decided to have a little fun with some of the pictures captured this conference.

The one who contributes the most is my good friend Arnold Z. Cruz, the official photographer of the league.

Arnold is the president of MISNet Education, Inc.; a multi-awarded educational institution geared towards providing courses on Microsoft technology since 1995. Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time to pursue his true passion: photography. Arnold is a member of the Nikon Sports and Action Photographers of the Philippines (NSAPP) and that group has been responsible for a multitude of pictures we often see in newspapers and online sites like Yahoo! Sports Philippines.

I think it’s high time I honor this hard-working and highly-dedicated photographer with a few snapshots from the ongoing Open Conference and maybe open them up to some captions which you sportZtackle readers can place your input on.

Let’s begin.

The Shakey's V-League showcases the best women's volleyball players in the country. But they are, after all, fun-loving girls who find ways of entertaining themselves when they're not playing. This shot by Arnold exemplifies this best.

Liberos have the toughest job in all of volleyball. They're not allowed to attack, block or serve, yet they are the most important members of a team's defense. When they dig up a spike, the team is energized as they try to capitalize on a defensive gem. When they miss, the opposition rejoices and all that's left is one frustrated floor patroller who wishes she were just a little bit taller so she could help out on offense. It's a thankless task, but someone's got to do it.

Once in a while, an old friend drops in to visit a former teammate and lend support for that match. You can probably imagine the buzz in the arena when that familiar former player happens to be one of the league's most popular faces.

ALSO READ: UAAP stars RR Garcia, Jeric Teng join PBA Draft

It felt like an eternity ago when NU and Ateneo clashed for the first conference title. That series went the full route and both protagonists slugged it out until the Lady Bulldogs emerged victorious. The Open Conference forges new alliances and, in doing so, creates new friendships. It also creates new rivalries, though.

De La Salle University has had one of the most successful women's volleyball programs since the turn of the millennium. Their sisterhood is deep and their competitive spirit is strong. Eventually they go their separate ways, but there are occasions they encounter each other on the volleyball and when that happens, the competitive spirit nixes the sisterhood.

There are also instances of generations crossing paths. Eight years ago, rookie Rachel Anne Daquis made her first Shakey's V-League appearance and was immediately hazed by then FEU veterans Tina Salak and Ers Iratay--who were then seeing action as guest players for other squads. Today, Daquis is the grizzled veteran and is ironically on the same team as her former tormentors. Now it's her turn to strike fear into the budding careers of the Lady Tamaraw youngsters. Maybe one day, they can continue the tradition.

ALSO READ: UFL Cup: Kaya laces up for breast cancer awareness, Global wins

But at the end of the day, it's the fans that have helped propel the league--and the sport--to new heights. The San Juan Arena has been the home of the league for almost a decade and the people love it there. The volleyball fans are some of the most rabid in all of Philippine sports. They protect their girls and will wage war on anyone who dare speak ill about them. Yet they will also be the first to acknowledge when a rival outplayed their idol.

Now here are a few noteworthy pictures taken by Arnold. Take them in and relive the experience. See you on Sunday.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com

CNN
An Indian woman accused her husband of forcing her to have ‘unnatural sex.’ A judge said that’s not a crime in marriage
An Indian judge has dismissed a woman’s complaint that her husband committed “unnatural sex,” because under Indian law it’s not illegal for a husband to force his wife to engage in sexual acts.
Yahoo News Singapore
LTA's 'new' ERP 2.0 is a bad idea, and the sooner that is acknowledged and accepted, the better
We already wasted money on ERP 2.0, but it's not too late to backtrack, says contributing editor Aloysius Low.
BBC
Woman arrested after baby has cardiac arrest at Legoland
The five-month-old baby boy is in a critical condition, police say.
KameraOne
Thai housekeeper inherits $2.7 MILLION following French employer's tragic suicide
A terminally ill French millionaire left her devoted Thai maid a staggering inheritance of 100 million THB (2.7 million USD) on her birthday before taking her own life. The emotional housekeeper grapples with grief, memories, and managing newfound wealth amidst the loss of her beloved employer and friend.
The Telegraph
Australian MP drugged and sexually assaulted on night out
Australian police have launched an investigation after Queensland MP Brittany Lauga said she was drugged and sexually assaulted.
The Independent
Mother arrested for throwing disabled son into crocodile-infested canal in India
Woman says her husband considered child a burden and they frequently quarrelled about it
HuffPost
'She Was So Rude, My Family Is No Longer Allowed To Listen To Her Music': 34 Of The Absolute Best And Worst Celebrities People Have Ever Met
"I went to shake her hand, and she looked me up and down and said, 'I don't shake hands,' then walked away."
INSIDER
I started having sex at 36. I missed out on years of self-discovery but I still don't regret waiting.
I didn't grow up religious but I subscribed to the purity plan. I feel inadequate when I started having sex with my partner.
The Daily Beast
Kim Kardashian Is Booed Relentlessly at Tom Brady’s Netflix Roast
NetflixReality star Kim Kardashian was clearly shocked to be booed onstage while making a special appearance at Tom Brady’s The Greatest Roast of all Time on Netflix Sunday. Kardashian, who also made a number of digs at Caitlyn Jenner, was called up from the crowd by presenter and comedian Kevin Hart to give a toast, and while she initially received some applause at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, it was quickly drowned out by a chorus of boos, forcing Kardashian to pause as she began her speech.“
People
Emily Blunt Says She Felt Sick After Kissing Certain Actors While Filming: 'I've Definitely Not Enjoyed Some of It'
The actress opened up about the challenges of finding chemistry with her costars during an appearance on 'The Howard Stern Show'
Evening Standard
Man City: Pep Guardiola explains Erling Haaland touchline incident after substitution
Norwegian was visibly unhappy despite four-goal haul vs Wolves
Evening Standard
Tottenham: Heung-min Son sends message to squad as Ange Postecoglou tactics face scrutiny
Spurs are on their worst run of form in two decades
BuzzFeed
Non-Americans Are Revealing The Ways They Can “Spot An American Tourist From A Mile Away” — And I’m Both Laughing And Crying
I also feel personally attacked at the accuracy of these.
Evening Standard
Gary Neville predicts the day Arsenal will lose the title race to Man City
The Gunners are expected to miss out on the title for the second season running
The Guardian
‘It shows they care’: Ange Postecoglou defends Spurs duo after Anfield bust-up
Ange Postecoglou said the half-time row between Tottenham defenders Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal at Liverpool shows that the players care
The Guardian
Manchester United have met with Jadon Sancho during loan, Erik ten Hag reveals
Manchester United have met with Jadon Sancho during his loan spell at Dortmund and Erik ten Hag is hopeful their conflict can be resolved
Associated Press
Australia accuses China of unsafe behavior when fighter jet released flares in a helicopter's path
Australia has protested to Beijing that a Chinese fighter jet endangered an Australian navy helicopter with flares in international waters, officials said Monday. The incident occurred on Saturday as the Australian air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart was enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea in international waters in the Yellow Sea, the Defense Department said in a statement.
The Guardian
‘I’m not worried’: Arne Slot bids farewell to Feyenoord fans as Liverpool beckon
The Feyenoord manager waved to supporters in an apparent goodbye at the end of their 5-0 thrashing of PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie
People
Inside the 'Awkward Scene' When Kate Middleton and Prince William Arrived Late to King Charles' Coronation
Royal biographer Robert Hardman unravels what happened on the all-important morning
Reuters
Israel attacks Rafah after Hamas claims responsibility for deadly rocket attack
CAIRO (Reuters) -Three Israeli soldiers were killed in a rocket attack claimed by Hamas armed wing, near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, where Palestinian health officials said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday. Hamas's armed wing claimed responsibility on Sunday for an attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza that Israel said killed three of its soldiers. Israel's military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the area of the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave.

Latest stories