Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 MPVA season | |
 | |
| Sport | Volleyball |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 15, 2023 |
| Founder | Manny Pacquiao |
| First season | 2023 |
| Commissioner | Michael Tavera |
| Motto | Ang Liga Para Sa Lahat (The League for All) |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Most recent champion(s) | Quezon Tangerines (2024) |
| Most titles | Bacoor City Strikers Quezon Tangerines (1 title each) |
| TV partner(s) | Media Pilipinas TV Plus Network |
The Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) is a women's developmental volleyball league in the Philippines consisting of nine teams.
The MPVA was founded in 2023 by eight-division boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao, who also founded the similarly-named Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) in 2017. Similar to its basketball counterpart, it is meant to be a grassroots league with a focus on showcasing local, homegrown talents.[1][2] It is the third league under the Maharlika Pilipinas name, following the MPBL and the Junior MPBL.
The Bacoor City Strikers are the current defending champions, after defeating the Negros Blue Hawks in the finals of the 2023 MPVA season.[3]
History
Background
On August 29, 2017, Manny Pacquiao founded the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, a semi-professional basketball league that uses a home-and-away system with a focus on showcasing local talents.[4][5] By 2023, the league was promoted to a professional league and has run for five seasons.[6] On June 15, 2023, Pacquiao shared his intent to create a home-and-away volleyball league similar to the MPBL that will cater to women athletes.[7]
Launch
On September 15, 2023, Pacquiao formally launched the MPVA in a press conference with commissioner Michael Tavera. Announced in the press conference was a list of ten teams that were set to compete in the inaugural season, with all but one of them having a set locality. The league's future plans include a men's division in 2024 as well as its own junior's division.[1][8] One month later, in another press conference, the lineup was decreased to eight teams, with three teams deferring and one team joining.[9]
The MPVA's inaugural season began on October 22, 2023 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal with the opening ceremonies followed by a doubleheader of matches.[9] The inaugural season was won by the Bacoor City Strikers.
The league's 2024 season is set to begin on August 11, 2024, which is referred to by the league as its first season of full length.[10] It will feature nine teams, one more than last season.[11]
Teams
In its first season, the MPVA consisted of eight teams. For its second season in 2024, the league will expand to nine teams.[10]
Metro Manila and Calabarzon both have the most teams out of any region with four each. The Negros Blue Hawks are the only outlier, being the only team based in the Negros Island Region. In terms of island groups, Luzon has eight while Visayas has one.
Out of the nine active member teams, all except the Bacoor City Strikers share a locality with an active MPBL team.
Teams are usually owned and/or back by their respective local governments and team sponsors. Team names can change as a result of managerial and/or sponsorship changes. Some teams share its name with their respective basketball counterparts in the MPBL.
Locations of teams based in Metro Manila |
Locations of teams based in Calabarzon |
Locations of teams based in Visayas |
| Team | Location | Home venue(s) | Capacity | First season | Head coach | Team captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacoor City Strikers | Bacoor, Cavite | Strike Gymnasium | 1,500 | 2023 | Sandy Rieta | Marian Tracy Andal |
| Biñan Tatak Gel Volley Angels | Biñan, Laguna | Alonte Sports Arena | 6,500 | 2023 | Ariel Dela Cruz | Erika Jin Deloria |
| Caloocan AM Spikers | Caloocan | Caloocan Sports Complex | 2,500 | 2023 | Anna Cammile Abanto | Jozza Mae Cabalsa |
| Marikina Lady Shoemasters | Marikina | Marikina Sports Center | 7,000 | 2023 | Andy Fiel | Bien Elaine Juanillo |
| Negros Blue Hawks | Negros Island | Ynares Sports Arena[a] | 3,000 | 2023 | Jessie Barroga | Charlotte Tutanes |
| Quezon Tangerines | Quezon | Quezon Convention Center | 7,000 | 2024 | Rogelio Getigan | Jessa Dorog |
| Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation | Rizal | Ynares Sports Arena | 3,000 | 2023 | Cromwell Garcia | Venice Puzon |
| San Juan Lady Knights | San Juan | Strike Gymnasium[a] | 1,500 | 2023 | Clarence Esteban | Therese Angeli Manalo |
| Valenzuela Classy | Valenzuela | Paco Arena[a] | 1,000 | 2024 | Jeffrey Dela Cruz | Abegail Nuval |
- Notes
Former
| Team | Locality | First season | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasipit Lady Spikers | Nasipit, Agusan del Norte | 2023 | |
- Notes
Roster regulations
The league has a set of roster regulations, putting restrictions on which and how many players each team can place onto its roster. As of 2023, the roster regulations are as follows:[1][12]
- All players must be at least eighteen (18) years old to be able to join a team.
- Each team must have at least three homegrown players – players who are native to the team's home locality.
- Each team is limited to three players with prior participation in professional leagues such as the Premier Volleyball League.
Format
Current
The current season format involves all participating teams competing in a double round-robin tournament during the preliminary round, meaning each team plays two matches against all other teams. The league's pool standing procedure prioritizes match points over wins. The top four teams of the prelims advance to a two-round playoff tournament where the top two get twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the finals is a best-of-three series.[13]
Previous
During the 2023 season, the preliminary round was divided into two stages. After the traditional single round-robin, the teams were reorganized into two groups where they would play one match against other teams within the same group.[12][14] All eight teams then took part in a three-round playoff tournament with the top four getting twice-to-beat advantage during the quarterfinals. The all other rounds were best-of-three.
Result summary
| Season | Champions | Runner-up | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bacoor City Strikers | Negros–ICC Blue Hawks | Marikina Lady Shoemasters |
| 2024 | Quezon Tangerines | Biñan Tatak Gel Volley Angels | Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation |
Medal summary
| Rank | Team |  Gold |
 Silver |
 Bronze |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bacoor City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Quezon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | Negros | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Biñan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 3 | Marikina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rizal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Media coverage
The league's broadcast rights are currently held by Media Pilipinas TV (MPTV), which airs every game on television. The league also streams the games on its social media channels. Similar to the MPBL, the MPVA has its own broadcast feed that is used across all platforms.
During the inaugural season, the Plus Network also streamed the games on its social channels. One PH also served as an additional television broadcaster.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "Pacquiao-founded volleyball league to showcase homegrown talent". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Jr, Rommel Fuertes (October 19, 2023). "MPVA prioritizes volleyball grassroots but also welcomes ex-pro players". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ Abrina, Dennis (December 22, 2023). "Bacoor Metroland Lady Altas claim MPVA's inaugural title". The Manila Times. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Del Rosario, Paolo (August 29, 2017). "Senator Manny Pacquiao launches new basketball league". CNN Philippines (in English and Filipino). Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ Henson, Joaquin (September 3, 2017). "MPBL won't compete with PBA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "Chooks-to-Go MPBL officially turns pro". Tiebreaker Times. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "Pacquiao sets up Junior MPBL". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Escarlote, Mark (August 12, 2023). "Pacquiao launching volleyball tournament". Daily Tribune Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "Brand new home-and-away volleyball league MPVA ready for takeoff". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ a b "Having more teams means having more opportunities for grassroot talents to showcase their volleyball skills on a bigger stage! Catch the 1st season of the MPVA starting in August!". Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ Abrina, Dennis (August 7, 2024). "Lady Strikers seek back-to-back MPVA crowns". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b III, Angel B. Dukha (September 16, 2023). "Manny Pacquiao gives volleyball MPBL-like reach". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Ulanday, John Bryan. "9 teams take part in Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association 2nd season". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Jr, Rommel Fuertes (October 19, 2023). "MPVA opens with double-header in Antipolo". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 19, 2023.