MANILA, Philippines — The National Grassroots Volleyball League (NGVL) is set to hold its national finals from May 3 to May 7, 2026, at the FilOil Centre in San Juan. The league, established this year, aims to provide a dedicated platform for girls under 16 years old (U16) to showcase their skills and secure opportunities for higher-level play.
During a Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, April 21, league officials and renowned talent scout Coach Kungfu Reyes emphasized the abundance of untapped volleyball talent residing in the country’s distant provinces.
League president Yvette Katigbak-Ambrocio highlighted that the NGVL’s mission is to reach every corner of the Philippines to find young athletes who otherwise might not be seen by major Manila-based collegiate programs.
- Countrywide Qualifications: Participating local teams underwent rigorous regional qualifying rounds to earn their spots in the finals.
- Regional Representation: The 14-team roster for the national finals includes squads from:
- Luzon: Metro Manila, Baguio, Pangasinan, Laguna, and Bicol.
- Visayas: Bacolod.
- Mindanao: Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao.
In a move to elevate the level of competition, the NGVL national finals will also feature two guest teams from overseas:
- FilSpikerz Volleyball Club from New Zealand.
- Sentrix Falcons from the United Arab Emirates.
Coach Kungfu Reyes, known for discovering some of the biggest stars in Philippine volleyball, noted that the grassroots level is where the “future of the national team” begins.
- Target Demographic: The league specifically targets girls under 16, a critical age for skill development and recruitment.
- The “Eye for Talent”: Reyes remarked that many gifted players are “out there in the provinces,” and the NGVL serves as the bridge between these rural areas and the professional/collegiate volleyball scene in the capital.
The NGVL is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as part of a broader national initiative to strengthen grassroots sports development across the archipelago.