National University (NU) puts its dynasty on the line against 16 other teams itching to end its four-year reign and bag the hefty cash incentive as the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup takes center stage starting 25 September at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs brace for another tough competition from six University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) squads and 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association teams in the league’s much-anticipated centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

This year, SSL, through its main backer Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) is adding cash prizes for podium finishers, with the champion bagging P1 million, P600,000 for the runner-up while the third-place squad will pocket P300,000.

Individual award winners get P10,000 each while the tournament Most Valuable Player will be given P30,000 cash.    

“After our successful staging of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League and the National Invitationals to start the season, of course, we want this year’s Unity Cup to be bigger, thrilling and explosive,” said Ian Laurel, president and chairman of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc. during the press conference on Wednesday.

Also in attendance during the news briefing were SPAVI president and chief executive officer Vic Gregorio, SPAVI general manager Oliver Sicam and SPAVI marketing head Regina Asa as well as coaches and key players from participating teams. 

“Since 2004, Shakey’s has been there supporting the growth and development of the sport here in the country. And Shakey’s continues that commitment through the staging of the SSL,” Gregorio said.   

Intense volleyball action remains the same despite reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University taking another leave of absence due to injuries to some of its key players.