By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Twenty Western Visayas-based volleybelles are set to strut their wares when the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament kicks off today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Negros Occidental is well represented this season with eight volleybelles, while Bacolod City came in at second with six, Iloilo with four, while Guimaras and Antique with one each.

National University Lady Bulldogs will have six Region 6-based players in sisters Myrtle and Ruth Terri Escanlar (Negros Occidental’s Pontevedra town), Camille Lamina (Guimaras), Shaira Jardio (Negros Occidental’s Talisay City), Pearl An Denura (Dumangas, Iloilo), and Arah Panique (San Enrique).

On the other hand, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons has four in Bacolodnons Joan Marie Monares and Jeanny Padilla, Talisaynon Nikha Cabasac and Irah Anika Jaboneta (San Jose de Buenavista, Antique).

Meanwhile, defending champion De La Salle University Lady Spikers will parade three Region 6-based players in Bacolod’s Maicah Larroza and Angel Canino, and Iloilo City’s Amie Provido.

The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws also has three Western Visayas-based volleybelles in the lineup in Talisaynons Nikka Ann Medina and Melody Pons, and Bacolodnon Ann Monares.

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles’ women’s volleyball team have two Region 6 volleybelles in Ilongga libero Roma Mae Doromal and Bacolodnon setter Katherine Shaine Cortez.

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers have one in Negros Occidental’s Silay City-native Cassie Carballo, while Adamson University Lady Falcons will parade Ilongga Athea Aposaga.

Set to faceoff on opening day today are the Blue Eagles and the University of the East Lady Warriors at 2:00 p.m., to be followed by the Lady Spikers-Lady Falcons in the second game at 4:00 p.m.

Battling on Sunday, February 18, are the Fighting Maroons against the Lady Tamaraws in the first game at 2:00 p.m., followed by the Golden Tigresses-Lady Bulldogs encounter at 4:00 p.m./ASC, WDJ