Student-ambassadors during the SSL Unity Cup press conference, September 16, 2026. Handout photo
MANILA — National University puts its dynasty on the line against 16 other teams itching to end its four-year reign and bag the hefty cash incentive as the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup takes center stage starting September 25 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs brace for another tough competition from six UAAP squads and 10 NCAA teams in the league which has cash prizes for podium finishers, with the champion bagging P1 million, P600,000 for the runner-up while the third-place squad will pocket P300,000.
Individual award winners get P10,000 each while the tournament Most Valuable Player will be given P30,000 cash.
“After our successful staging of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League and the National Invitationals to start the season, of course, we want this year’s Unity Cup to be bigger, thrilling, and explosive,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president and chairman of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), during the competition’s press conference on Wednesday at the Shakey’s Quezon Avenue branch.
Also present during the press launch were SPAVI President and CEO Vic Gregorio, SPAVI General Manager Oliver Sicam and SPAVI Marketing Head Regina Asa, as well as coaches and key players from participating teams.
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“Since 2004, Shakey’s has been there supporting the growth and development of the sport here in the country. And Shakey’s continues that commitment through the staging of the SSL,” Gregorio said.
Intense volleyball action remains the same despite reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University taking another leave of absence due to injuries to some of its key players.
The 17 squads are divided into four pools to play in a single-round robin format in the preliminary round.
NU is in Pool A with San Beda University, Arellano University, University of Perpetual Help and NCAA champion Letran College.
Newly crowned SSL National Invitationals champion and last year’s Unity Cup runner-up University of Santo Tomas, College of Saint Benilde, Jose Rizal University and Mapua University are bunched in Pool B.
Pool C is composed of Far Eastern University, Ateneo De Manila University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Sebastian College-Recoletos while Adamson University, University of the Philippines, Lyceum University of the Philippines and University of the East, which makes a comeback after skipping last year’s edition, are in Pool D.
The top two teams of each pool will advance to the next round, where they will be divided into two groups for another round-robin play. Points earned by each team in the preliminary will be added to the round to determine their rankings in the quarterfinals.
The top two-ranked squads after the round will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals. Both the semifinals and battle for bronze are knockout affairs, while the championship is a best-of-three series.
The tournament’s unique all-to-play format is still in effect, where all players on each team’s game roster must see action.
Following international standards, the league will use the latest video challenge system with animated replay visualization to capture contested plays in greater detail. The system will be available for use in the second round.
“Of course, we want teams to experience playing under international standards through innovations and the latest volleyball technology,” Laurel said.
Shakey’s has also brought back its Super Bundle Meal. In every Super Bundle sold, P50 will be donated to the customer’s chosen school.
The Unity Cup is the culmination of another successful SSL season.
SSL started the year with a record 44 teams competing in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League, followed by international-flavored National Invitationals that saw foreign guest teams compete in the collegiate and the inaugural high school division.