THE Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association starts this Sunday, Aug. 11, at the Strike Gym in Bacoor, Cavite with nine community-based teams seeking the league’s first season crown.
“Malaking karangalan at kasiyahan ang nararamdaman ko habang inilunsad natin ang unang season ng MPVA. Ito ay hindi lamang isang liga, ito ay isang plataporma na nagdadala ng pag-asa at pagkakataon sa mga talento sa grassroots volleyball sa Pilipinas,” former senator and league founder Manny Pacquiao said last Wednesday during the MVPA’s launch together with commissioner Mike Tavera and other league officials, team owners, coaches and players at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay.
“Ang pagkakaroon ng mas maraming koponan ay hindi lang magpapataas ng antas ng kompetisyon kundi magbubukas rin ng pintuan para sa maraming kabataang atleta para maipakita ang kanilang galing sa mas malaking entablado,” the boxing icon added.
From eight squads in the inaugural tourney last year, nine teams will do battle in this season’s regular meet, with the reigning champion Bacoor City Strikers spearheading the field.
Aside from Bacoor, also returning are the Biñan Tatak Gel, Caloocan AM Spikers, Marikina Shoemasters, Negros-ICC Blue Hawks, Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers, and San Juan Lady Knights.
Making their debut in the league are the Valenzuela Classy and Quezon Tangerines.
Pacquiao emphasized the MPVA’s aspiration–to help athletes compete in a top-notch league.
“Ang MPVA po, hindi po ito makipag-kompitensya sa ibang mga liga kundi (para) mag-add ng opportunity doon sa mga grassroot-level na mga balibolista, sa mga players na makapagbigay ng chance na makapaglaro sila, maipakita ang kanilang galing. Iyan po ang adhikain ng MPVA, ang goal ng MPVA,” Pacquiao said.
Tavera said each participating team was ordered to have at least three homegrown spikers.
“Each team is required to have at least three homegrowns. I know right now, there are a lot of homegrowns sa teams ngayon compared to our inaugural,” he said. “Ito nga po iyong programa ni senator, ang gusto niya as much as possible, we get the homegrowns of each participating team LGUs.”
