Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association

Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA)
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 MPVA season
SportVolleyball
FoundedSeptember 15, 2023; 13 months ago (2023-09-15)
FounderManny Pacquiao
First season2023
CommissionerMichael Tavera
MottoAng Liga Para Sa Lahat (The League for All)
No. of teams9
CountryPhilippines
Most recent
champion(s)		Bacoor City Strikers (2023)
Most titlesBacoor City Strikers (1 title)
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]

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

[edit]

Background

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See also: Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League § History

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

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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

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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.

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Locations of teams based in Metro Manila
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Locations of teams based in Calabarzon
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Locations of teams based in Visayas
Overview of MPVA teams
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 TBA 2024 Jeffrey Dela Cruz Abegail Nuval
Notes
  1. ^ a b Used as a designated home arena; not located within the team's home locality.

Former

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Team Locality First season Last season
Nasipit Lady Spikers Nasipit, Agusan del Norte 2023
Notes

Roster regulations

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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

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Current

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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

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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

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Season Champions Runner-up 3rd place
2023 Bacoor City Strikers Negros–ICC Blue Hawks Marikina Lady Shoemasters
2024 [to be determined]

Medal summary

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Rank Team Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Bacoor City 1 0 0 1
2 Negros 0 1 0 1
3 Marikina 0 0 1 1

Media coverage

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "Pacquiao-founded volleyball league to showcase homegrown talent". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  2. ^ Jr, Rommel Fuertes (October 19, 2023). "MPVA prioritizes volleyball grassroots but also welcomes ex-pro players". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Abrina, Dennis (December 22, 2023). "Bacoor Metroland Lady Altas claim MPVA's inaugural title". The Manila Times. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Henson, Joaquin (September 3, 2017). "MPBL won't compete with PBA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  6. ^ "Chooks-to-Go MPBL officially turns pro". Tiebreaker Times. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "Pacquiao sets up Junior MPBL". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Escarlote, Mark (August 12, 2023). "Pacquiao launching volleyball tournament". Daily Tribune Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "Brand new home-and-away volleyball league MPVA ready for takeoff". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Abrina, Dennis (August 7, 2024). "Lady Strikers seek back-to-back MPVA crowns". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ a b III, Angel B. Dukha (September 16, 2023). "Manny Pacquiao gives volleyball MPBL-like reach". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Ulanday, John Bryan. "9 teams take part in Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association 2nd season". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Jr, Rommel Fuertes (October 19, 2023). "MPVA opens with double-header in Antipolo". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
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