Moying Martelino (left) announces that two new teams are competing in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 which opens on Sunday. At right is Barbie Ocampo, marketing manager of Shakey’s Pizza. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

Games Sunday (The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. — Lyceum vs San Sebastian
4 p.m. — Ateneo vs FEU
6 p.m. — National University vs CSB

With the return of its Thai import coupled with the absence of its finals tormentor in the previous conference, San Sebastian College looms as the heavy pick when the second conference of the 7th Shakey's V-League unwraps on Sunday with a three-game bill at The Arena in San Juan City.

The hard-hitting Thai Jaroensri Bualee, a former league MVP, will return to the SSC fold either this week or next, making the Recto-based school an instant superpower in the country's premiere volleyball tournament.

"We're just working on her (Bualee) visa and we don't know when exactly she would come, whether on opening day or not. But she'll be here inside two weeks," said tounament director Ricky Palou in Tuesday's PSA Forum at the Shakey's UN Ave.

Bualee, 26, a former member of the Thailand national team who emerged as the top scorer in the previous V-League conference with 243 points, is hoping she could finally steer the SSC lasses to the title since University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, their tormentor in the finals last conference, have taken a leave of absence.

The Tigresses, which dominated the league by completing a "three-peat" last conference and sixth overall, took a break so players can take a rest and focus on their studies.

"The competition will now be good and basically they (team) are evenly match although San Sebastian and Lyceum are the favorites. But basically we are looking on an equal footing here," said Palou, appearing alongside Moying Martelino, the chairman of the organizing Sports Vision and Barbie Ocampo, marketing manager of Shakey's Pizza.