MPVA puts homegrown players at centre of first men's tournament
Eight teams will compete from November 14 in Biñan, Laguna, with a double-round robin competition expected to finish by the end of January.
The Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) will open its first men's tournament on November 14 in Biñan, Laguna, giving a larger share of team places to homegrown players, commissioner Michael Tavera said.
Speaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Tavera said teams would have around 12 to 14 homegrown players, compared with about three previously. Most participants would represent their own local government units, with places for only a few guest players.
The eight participating teams represent Bacoor, Biñan, Caloocan, Marikina, Nasipit, Negros Oriental, Rizal and San Juan. Tavera said they would play a double-round robin, with the tournament expected to end by the close of January.
Dr. Ian Laurel, chairman and president of Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc., said organisers decided to introduce the men's competition after hearing that local men's tournaments attracted much larger fields than women's events. He said men's competitions could draw 20 or more teams, while women's divisions might have four or five.
Laurel said the tournament sought to connect players with their communities by enabling relatives, friends and neighbours to watch them compete. He added that the league's partnership with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation would broaden scouting for Alas Pilipinas ahead of future international competitions.
