Layunin ng Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) Men’s League, na magsisimula sa Oktubre, na makatuklas ng mga talento na kakatawan sa bansa sa mga international tournament.
Ang MPVA ay proyekto nina boxing legend Manny Pacquiao at Strong Group Athletics chair Frank Lao.
Ayon kay Ian Laurel, presidente ng organizer na Volleyball Masters of the Philippines, walong koponan na may tig-18 manlalaro ang lalahok sa inaugural conference gamit ang home-and-away format.
Sa 18 manlalaro, 12 ang dapat na homegrown players, na nangangahulugang sila ay nakatira, nag-aaral o naglalaro sa local government unit (LGU) na nais nilang katawanin.
“We are taking a different approach this time because we want our teams to have more players coming from the grassroots level. Aside from helping these players get exposure, we are also helping the federation discover more talents who can be part of the national pool,” pahayag ni Laurel.
Nagkaroon ng interes sa men’s volleyball nang makuha ng national team ang silver medal sa 30th Manila Southeast Asian Games noong 2019.
Tinalo ng Pilipinas ang four-time defending champion Thailand sa semifinals, 17-25, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25, 17-15, bago yumuko sa Indonesia sa finals, 21-25, 25-27, 17-25.
Gayunpaman, naiwan ang mga lalaking volleyball player na walang liga sa grassroots level.
“That’s why we’re forming this league,” ani Laurel. “We believe in the talent of our male players and we are confident that they can display their talents before a huge crowd in their respective LGUs. This is our way of helping the federation promote volleyball, especially men’s volleyball, at the grassroots level.”
Pinaplano rin ang pagdaragdag ng mga koponan at posibleng pagpapalawak ng liga sa Visayas at Mindanao matapos ang inaugural season.
“For our inaugural conference, we’ll be having an eight-team tournament. But by next year, we’ll make it big as we expand to the Visayas and Mindanao — just like the ongoing MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League),” ani Laurel, tungkol sa sister league na itinayo rin ni Pacquiao at dala ang pangalan ng LGU, bayan o probinsya ng bawat koponan.
“As you know, the bigger the tournament, the more athletes we can help get discovered and developed. And it will surely be a major boost to Philippine volleyball.”