Pacman launches MPVA

New league. A new venture for boxing legend Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquaio

The eight-division world champion takes his charm and influence in the volleyball community as he launched the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) on Friday at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City.

The inaugural season will take place on the second week of October in the still undisclosed venue.

“Home-and-away kasi ang format natin, kaya right now tinitignan pa naming kung saang venue natin gagawin ang opening,” said Pacquaio in a well-attended media conference.

“Marami tayong talents sa mga lalawigan pero konti ang liga kaya wala silang mapaglaruan. Itong MPVA ang magiging stepping stone nila para maipakita ang kanilang mga husay at makapaglaro sa eskwelahan hanggang sa Philippine Team,” added the boxing icon.

A total of 10 teams answered the call of Pacquaio with Agusan del Norte as the lone team from Mindanao province. Other participating teams are Bacoor, Bulacan, Binan, Caloocan City, Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, Rizal, and a team called Blue Hawks which is still awaiting its Local Government Unit (LGU) partner.

“Gusto nating tulungan ang development ng volleyball, pero kailangan din natin bigyan nang kabuhayan ang mga players kaya nag-impose kami ng allowances para sa mga players na hindi lalagpas sa P50,000 kada buwan,” stressed MPVA president at CEO Emerson Oreta.

Under the format, teams will be played in a single-round elimination, while quarterfinals, semifinals, and Finals are a best-of-three affair. All teams are only allowed to pick five former or active professional players in the team and the rest must be homegrown players.

“Basta sports, tutulong si Manny Pacquaio. Gusto nating umangat ang level ng skills ng ating mga players para makasabay tayo sa mga foreign teams. Kaya, yung grassroots tututukan din natin yan sa pamamagitan ng girls at boys volleyball edition in the future,” said Pacquiao, who also the founder of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), and staunch supporter of chess, table tennis, badminton and swimming.

“Yung homegrown players ang priority natin para na rin masiguro na parehas ang playing field,” added Pacquaio.