University of San Carlos (right) and University of Southern Philippines Foundation played in the finals of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) volleyball tournament last year. USC won, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17. (Contributed photo)
The V-League, the country’s pioneering amateur volleyball tournament, is set to make its debut in the Visayas, bringing high-caliber volleyball action to Cebu.
The V-League Visayas will feature the region’s best collegiate squads, headlined by Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) defending champions University of San Carlos (USC) and runners-up University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF). They will be joined by other top-tier teams including 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).
“This region has produced some of the country’s finest volleyball athletes, and it’s time we invest more in developing the sport here,” said Sports Vision Management Group Inc. president Richard Palou. “The V-League Visayas will not only support CESAFI tournaments but also provide more opportunities for players to shine.”
The league’s expansion into the Visayas underscores the region’s vital role in the growth of Philippine volleyball.
“The Visayas has long been a cornerstone of the national volleyball program,” said V-League Visayas commissioner Ken Ucang. “Our coaches and players have laid a strong foundation for the sport, and now they deserve a bigger stage to showcase their talents. We are one V-League.”
Full details, including tournament schedules and matchups, will be announced in the coming weeks.
