NU banners 16-team SSL Preseason Unity Cup field

National University faces tough opposition in its title-retention bid against a strong field eager for a taste of glory in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup starting September 20 at the Playtime FilOil Centre.

Sixteen teams, six from UAAP and all 10 from the NCAA, will duke it out for the crown in the fourth staging of the league’s centerpiece tournament. 

Last edition’s runner-up De La Salle University and University of the East, are taking a leave of absence from the competition as both squads are still in the process of rebuilding their core following some key departures. 

Still, intense action in the competition backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea, remains the same.

“Even though we only have 16 teams, we still have a good lineup of up-and-coming teams with new players on their rosters. We want to showcase, for the very first time, how these players play with each other and against their respective opponents in their respective leagues,” 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 Buendia branch.

Also present during the press launch were Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) President and CEO Vic Gregorio, SPAVI General Manager Oliver Sicam, SPAVI Marketing Head Regina Asa, PLDT and Smart Communications Head of Sports Jude Turcuato, ACES Director Ariel Paredes, as well as coaches and key players of participating teams.   

The 16 squads are divided into four groups to play in a single-round robin format in the preliminary round. 

The four-peat-seeking Lady Bulldogs are bunched with Emilio Aguinaldo College, San Beda University and Lyceum of the Philippines University in Pool A.

Pool B is composed of Far Eastern University, Arellano University, Adamson University and Jose Rizal University. In Pool C are University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Mapua University and Letran, while College of Saint Benilde, Ateneo de Manila University, San Sebastian College and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta 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 to determine their rankings in the quarterfinals.

The top two-ranked squads after the round will be armed with a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals of the tilt supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, F2 Logistics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.

The semifinals and battle for bronze are knockout affairs, while the championship round is a best-of-three series.

All players listed in a team’s roster will be fielded under the tournament’s unique all-to-play format.

“The all-to-play rule will be in effect dahil ‘yan ang trademark ng ating preseason,” Laurel added.

“This is what the coaches also look out for, ‘yung magiging mga kombinasyon nila na pwede nilang gamitin bilang paghahanda dun sa mother leagues nila. And we’re excited to have this competition again.”

The Preseason Unity Cup is the culmination of another successful SSL season.

SSL started the year with the record-setting staging of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League, which saw the participation of 30 high school squads. 

The league then brought elite collegiate volleyball action closer to fans with the three-leg National Invitationals held in Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon.    

NU reigned supreme in the Davao Leg while Adamson and FEU ruled the Cebu and Batangas stops, respectively. 

“Together, let’s make sure the Preseason Unity Cup becomes a tremendous success and will be better than before, better than others and better than others,” Gregorio said.

All SSL Preseason Unity Cup games are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.