MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao has entered the Philippine volleyball scene with the formation of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) to continue discovering talents and providing opportunities to athletes.
Ten teams from different cities will compete against each other in the first MPVA, the latest women’s volleyball league, in a home-and-away format from October to December.
After successfully participating in the MPBL over the past five years, the world boxing champion in eight divisions hopes to expand his sports program to volleyball through the MPVA.
“I hope that this MPVA will become an institutional league in our country when it comes to volleyball,” Pacquiao, the league’s founder and president, said at Friday’s press conference.
“I hope this first season of MPVA will be as unforgettable as the MPBL. We receive support from all corners of the country. I hope you will also support the MPVA,” he added.
The Nasipit Lady Spikers of Agusan Del Norte, Blue Hawks, Marikina, Caloocan, Rizal, Binyana, Manila Tornadoes, Bulacan, Bacoor and Quezon City will compete in the first MPVA tournament, which will have a single round-robin elimination.
The teams must have at least three homegrown talents and can sign a maximum of five ex-professional players, but only three ex-pros may play at a time.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and the championship will be played in the best-of-three series. The competition will implement a video challenge starting from the semi-finals.
“I believe that volleyball can unite, inspire and create lasting change… He (Pacquiao) has worked tirelessly to bring sports closer to our hearts, Filipinos. His dedication to making a difference through sports is an inspiration to us all,” said MPVA Acting President and CEO Emerson Oreta, who worked with General Counsel Atty. Glenn Gacal and director and legal advisor Atty. Victorina Kalma.
“In line with Manny Pacquiao’s vision, we will achieve greatness together in volleyball, while also reaching Filipinos through the power of sports,” he added.
Pacquiao promises there will be a men’s division soon
Michael Tavera will become the MPVA commissioner with Venue Operations Director Allen Reyes and Director for Operations Ginio Panganiban, who also organize Shakey’s Super League.
Pacquiao said the MPVA is just getting started as it will have a men’s division and a junior division next year.
“This is not just a women’s category, next year we will also have a men’s category. We just have to plan well so that we don’t have any problems if everything happens at once,” said the founder of the competition. “I received a lot of responses asking why there is no men’s category. Don’t worry, it’s being played. It is part of our plan to have both a men’s and a women’s department.”
“We will also have a basic section for our youth. In the MPBL we have a Jr. MPBL. We’ll have something like that later. That is our plan for the MPVA,” he added.
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