MANILA – V-League, the country’s first-ever amateur volleyball league, is expanding its reach to the Visayas.
Dubbed as the V-League Visayas, the league will feature some of the best collegiate teams in Cebu.
Leading the charge are the reigning CESAFI champions University of San Carlos (USC) Lady Warriors and University of Southern Philippines Foundation Inc. (USPF) Lady Panthers, who finished as runners-up in last year’s CESAFI tournament.
Joining them in this inaugural tournament are University of Cebu (UC), University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), University of the Philippines-Cebu (UP-Cebu), and Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U).
Sports Vision Management Group Inc. president Richard Palou said the expansion was a long-overdue move to bolster the sport in the region.
“Many of the country’s top volleyball stars have come from Cebu, and it’s about time we help grow the game even further in the Visayas. With V-League Visayas, we are providing another platform to support the CESAFI tournaments and give players more opportunities to shine,” Palou said in a statement.
V-League Visayas commissioner Ken Ucang, for his part, said the Visayas expansion is more than just an additional tournament, but a testament to the region’s role in shaping national volleyball talent.
“The Visayas has been a powerhouse in the volleyball national program. The dedication and hard work of our coaches and players in this region have been our foundation. It’s about time that we give them the platform to showcase the best talents,” said Ucang. “We are one V-League.”
More details, including schedules and official matchups, will be announced in the coming weeks./PN
