MPVA opens men’s division with 7 squads

Homegrown talents take center stage in an intense battle of power, skills and for local pride as the inaugural Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) men’s division unwraps on 21 November.

Seven teams duke it out in a unique home-and-away format in the tournament, founded by Filipino boxing icon and cabinet secretary Manny Pacquiao, which aims to showcase local volleyball talents.

“The MPVA is one of the visions of Secretary Manny Pacquiao, to give another platform for men’s volleyball,” MPVA president Emmer Oreta said on Friday during the league’s formal launch at the Gloria Maris-Greenhills.

“We’re very excited for this men’s volleyball league. We’re sure this will be one of the main platforms for men’s volleyball in the country,” he added.

Participating teams for the first staging of the tournament presented by Strong Group Athletics, chaired by Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Frank Lao, are San Pedro City, Pasay City, Biñan City-Tatak Gel, Marikina City, Dasmariñas City, Santa Rosa City and Imus City.

Squads are required to have 12 homegrown players in their submitted 18-man rosters.

“We want to be able to establish a connection between the team and the community. So, in the first-ever men’s division, we required that out of the 18 players in the lineup, 12 must be homegrown. We want the stars of this league to be homegrown,” league organizer Volleyball Masters of the Philippines president Dr. Ian Laurel said.

“The reason for that is that we want to have that connection with the community. We’re expecting an exciting conference with a lot of fans watching the games in the venue to support their LGU (local government unit) teams,” he added.

Tournament format is a double-round robin elimination round with each team hosting visiting squads.