MANILA – The University of the Philippines -Cebu has thrown its support behind the newly launched V-League Visayas, a regional volleyball tournament aimed at expanding the development of the popular sport.

The V-League Visayas, to be launched on July 5 through a campus tour, will have an initial six teams.

Matches are scheduled on weekends to ensure that student-athletes maintain balance between sports and studies.

UP-Cebu chancellor Leo Malagar said the league is a long-overdue opportunity for regional athletes to compete on the national stage, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and decentralized approach to sports development.

“It's not just the capital (region) that can become a sports hub. Every region, every school, every family that believes in their children have roles to play in the country's success," Malagar said in a statement on Sunday.

The V-League Visayas is organized by Sports Vision Management Group Inc., the same group behind the former Shakey’s V-League and now the Premier Volleyball League, both successful ventures.

Malagar thanked Sports Vision Management and V-League Visayas commissioner Ken Ucang for spearheading the project, calling it a "visionary step" and the beginning of a larger movement.

He believed that through tournaments such as the V-League Visayas, the country could build a sports ecosystem that reflects the diversity, talent and untapped potential of all Filipinos, not just those in the Big City or the National Capital Region.

“By supporting regional athletes, we are strengthening the foundation of national sports. We are telling young players: You don’t need to leave home to grow. Even here, they can start dreaming,” he said. (PNA)