NEW LEAGUE. Community Volleyball Association tournament director Alvin Tañada (with microphone) talks about the newly-established volleyball league during their appearance in the 36th TOPS "Usapang Sports" at the National Press Club recently on Aug. 22, 2019. The newest community-based volleyball league will be launched next month. (Photo courtesy of TOPS)
MANILA -- The next Alyssa Valdez, Mika Reyes and Jaja Santiago could come from the Community Volleyball Association (CVA).
That’s why CVA founding president Carlo Maceda and tournament director Alvin Tañada are now busy laying the groundwork for the formal launching of the newest community-based volleyball league next month.
“We believe there are a lot of young and talented players from different parts of the country waiting to be discovered. Through the CVA, we are providing them the platform,” said Maceda and Tañada during the 36th "Usapang Sports" by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros on Thursday (August 22).
Although there are already two major volleyball tournaments in the country, Maceda believes there is room for more.
“The more, the merrier. Madami tayong magagaling na (We have plenty of) volleyball players,” explained Maceda, who is hoping to replicate the success of his other project, the Community Basketball Association.
Tañada also does not see any conflict with the two other leagues, Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and Philippine Super Liga (PSL).
“We’re not planning to rival the PVL or the PSL. Gusto lang natin ipakita sa mga players na hindi lang sa dalawang liga na ito pwede silang maglaro (We just want to show to the players that there are other league aside from these two). We will develop our own talent base with the help of local government units,” added Tañada in the same weekly forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, Pagcor, CBA, and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.
“Ang maganda nito ay madaming mga (The good thing here is there are lot of) LGUs which share the same passion in volleyball and believes in what we can do. Magkasama kami dito sa (We will work together here at) CVA,” added Tañada, who was part of the Philippine volleyball team in the 2017 SEA Games.
“In the CVA, I tapped two commissioners and a strong management team to help me out,” added Tañada.
Asked about the PVL-LVPI controversy, Tañada said he is willing to work with the two groups “but will recognize the decision of the FIVB, the world's governing body in volleyball.”
Watamslama Macalanggan, who will serve as 18-under commissioner, said they have already talked to several school-based teams and LGUs with strong volleyball programs.
“We already talked to 12 school-based teams, although I am not yet at liberty to divulge the list now," explained Macalanggan.
In the Open division, teams like the Philippine Navy and Air Force, NLEX, Pasay, Makati, Taguig, Caloocan, Bacoor, Imus, and General Trias and three cities from Laguna have already expressed interest.
“This is their time to shine,” Macalanggan said.
Also present during the weekly forum shown on Facebook live by Glitter Livestream are CVA officials Sylvia Von Giese (logistics and liaison head), Janine de Ocera (social media head), Grace Gomez (medical head) and Jeng Gacula (marketing head). (PR)
