REBUILDING National University is up against a tough field in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup set to start on Sept. 20 at The Arena in San Juan.
The four-peat seeking Lady Bulldogs headline the 16-team event that also features five more teams from the UAAP and 10 squads from the NCAA.
De La Salle University, last season’s runner-up, and University and University of the East are skipping the tourney this year as both schools are in the midst of revamping their rosters.
“Even though we only have 16 teams, we still have a good lineup of up-and-coming teams with new players on their rosters. We want to showcase, for the very first time, how these players play with each other and against their respective opponents in their respective leagues,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president and chairman of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), during the competition’s launch yesterday at Shakey’s Buendia branch.
Also present during the press launch were Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) President and CEO Vic Gregorio, SPAVI General Manager Oliver Sicam, SPAVI Marketing Head Regina Asa, PLDT and Smart Communications Head of Sports Jude Turcuato, ACES Director Ariel Paredes, NCAA management committee Peter Cayco, as well as coaches and key players of participating teams.
“This is going to be our rebuilding era. Hindi naman pwedeng ikaw lagi iyong on top, hindi naman ikaw iyong expected to win. We will do our best and try to defend our title,” said NU assistant team manager Regine Diego of the Lady Bulldogs team in the post-Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon stage.
“It’s a usual preparation for the UAAP for us and sa lahat so hopefully ma-surprise tayong lahat and mag-improve lahat sa liga na ito,” she added.
In the competition backed by Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea, the 16 participating teams are divided into four groups, going through a single-round robin format in the preliminary.
Joining UAAP titlists NU in Pool A are Emilio Aguinaldo College, San Beda University and Lyceum of the Philippines University while Pool B is composed of Far Eastern University, Arellano University, Adamson University and Jose Rizal University.
Comprising Pool C are University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Mapua University and Letran, while NCAA champions College of Saint Benilde, Ateneo de Manila University, San Sebastian College and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta are in Pool D.
The top two squads from each pool will advance to the next round, where they will be divided into two groups and go through another round-robin play to determine their rankings in the quarterfinals.
A best-of-three finals series awaits the two teams in the competition supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, F2 Logistics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
Gregorio said: “Together, let’s make sure the Preseason Unity Cup becomes a tremendous success and will be better than before, better than others.”
