UAAP champion National University and NCAA champion Arellano University collide in a blockbuster opening-day showdown as the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge kicks off on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Defending men’s V-League titleholder Far Eastern University also banners the eight-team men’s field, which includes UAAP squads University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, and Ateneo de Manila University, along with NCAA contenders College of Saint Benilde and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Now in its 21st year, the V-League, supported by Nestle Crunch Ice Cream, Mikasa and Premiere EMS, continues its tradition of developing amateur volleyball talent from top collegiate programs across the country.
Just last month, tournament organizer SportsVision and headed by Ken Ucang staged a competition in Cebu featuring CESAFI teams, where the University of Cebu emerged victorious in the men’s division and the University of San Jose-Recoletos ruled the women’s side.
In the women’s Collegiate Challenge, NCAA rivals CSB Lady Blazers and Letran Lady Knights join the Perpetual Lady Altas, Arellano Lady Chiefs, and Mapua Lady Cardinals, with UAAP representation from the FEU Lady Tamaraws, Ateneo Blue Eagles, and Adamson Lady Falcons.
Today’s NU-Arellano men’s duel serves as the curtain-raiser at 10 a.m., followed by the UST Golden Spikers taking on the Ateneo Blue Eagles at 12 p.m.
In women’s action, Arellano faces Mapua at 3 p.m., while Benilde battles Perpetual at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, action shifts to the Paco Arena in Manila, with FEU battling Mapua at 10 a.m. and Adamson taking on Perpetual at 12 p.m.
The men’s matches continue in the afternoon, featuring Arellano vs DLSU at 3 p.m., and Ateneo vs Letran at 5 p.m.
Matches will be staged every weekend and on Tuesdays. The single round-robin elimination runs until September 10 before pausing for to support the country’s hosting of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2025.
The top four teams from each division advance to the semifinals on October 1 in a best-of-three series format.
Winners will move on to the best-of-three finals, while the bronze medal will be decided in a one-game, winner-take-all clash.
