MPVA founder Manny Pacquiao, team managers Jayvee Sumagaysay and John Vic De Guzman during the launch on Friday. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Jayvee Sumagaysay will be wearing a different hat as the team manager of the Nasipit Agusan Del Norte Lady Spikers in the inaugural Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) — the newest women’s club volleyball league in the country — starting in October.
Sumagaysay, a Philippine men’s volleyball team member, got a new opportunity with his fellow players John Vic De Guzman and Kim Malabunga after their friend and Nasipit Mayor Roscoe Plaza entrusted them to handle the volleyball team in Manny Pacquiao’s newest league.
“MPVA will be a different challenge for me since it’s a women’s league. I’ve been playing in the men’s for a long time, but I’m looking forward to introducing the talent of Nasipit to Manila,” said the former University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spiker in Filipino.
“We wanted to support the vision and the program of Nasipit, which is the lone team from Mindanao. We hope to compete in this MPVA,” he added.
Handling a team is a tougher task than playing. That’s why Sumagaysay tapped the seasoned coaching staff of UST led by Ben Mape, John Abella, and Aying Esteban.
Sumagaysay revealed that ex-pro Cai Nepomuceno-Baloaloa will lead their team, which will have three home-grown talents from Nasipit who will come from their September 27 tryout.
“Our target is to showcase the talent of the players from Nasipit and deliver an achievement to this town,” he said.
Nasipit will face Blue Hawks, Marikina, Caloocan, Rizal, Biñan, Manila Tornadoes, Bulacan, Bacoor, and Quezon City
The MPVA is also eyeing to stage a men’s tournament next year, where Sumagaysay seeks to play for the same team.
“As one of the vocal men’s volleyball players, this will be good for our sport, which really deserves the same recognition as other Asian countries such as Japan and Thailand. Our division has the potential to reach that level,” said Sumagaysay.