JMC Kings Stage Comeback in V-League Davao Leg with Decisive Win
The Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings demonstrated resilience by clinching a 3–1 victory over the DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DCSP) as the V-League Davao Leg resumed on Friday, February 6, 2026. The match took place at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center, marking a significant moment in the league's efforts to bring high-level collegiate volleyball closer to athletes in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Strong Performance Leads to Victory
JMC secured the match with set scores of 27–25, 25–20, 24–26, and 25–20 in the men's division. The team relied heavily on an impressive all-around performance by Joash Sapate, who contributed seven service aces, 24 attack points, and three block points. This win served as a bounce-back for the Kings, who had suffered a tough opening-day loss to the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Cross Blazers on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. In that earlier match, HCDC edged out JMC in five sets, with Jan Austria leading the charge with five service aces and 24 attack points.
League's Vision for Decentralized Sports Development
The Davao leg was formally launched during a forum at the venue, where league organizers Ken Ucang and Abet Bernan outlined their vision. They aim to build a nationwide volleyball platform that decentralizes sports development, which has long been concentrated in Metro Manila. Ken Ucang emphasized, "Our mission is to make this a truly nationwide platform for volleyball. For a long time, development in ball sports has been concentrated in NCR. We have a lot of talent in Mindanao and the Visayas, but many athletes still have to go to Manila just to be seen or make it to college." The league, presented by the Davao Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Dasafi), seeks to provide collegiate and club volleyball players with a premier platform to showcase their skills within their home regions.
Other Matches and League Structure
In other men's division action on February 4, the Philippine Women's College of Davao (PWC) Patriots swept DCSP with scores of 25–13, 25–20, and 25–23, led by Raymark Marquiso's 14 attack points. In the women's division, Holy Cross of Davao College Cross Blazers dominated the University of Mindanao with a 3–0 win, paced by Angelica Ordinaria's 15 attack points and two block points. Additionally, Jose Maria College posted a straight-set victory over PWC, with Honjane Sivillino tallying nine attack points and two block points.
The Davao leg features five teams each in the men's and women's divisions competing in a single round-robin format. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, with matches held every Wednesday and Friday. The championship is scheduled for February 25 at the Almendras Gym. Champions from this leg will progress to the national championships in December 2026 in Manila, where they will face qualifiers such as the University of Cebu, Colegio de San Jose Recoletos from Cebu City, and Far Eastern University and Adamson University from Manila.
Expansion Plans and Future Outlook
Organized under the Davao Athletics Schools Foundation Inc. (DASAFI), the V-League has plans to expand to Iloilo by midyear as it continues to roll out regional legs across the nation. This initiative aims to highlight Visayas-Mindanao athletes and coaches, reducing the need for student-athletes to relocate for competitive opportunities. Ucang added, "We're bringing the league here so athletes can be seen, valued, and developed right where they are. The talent is already here in VisMin." This strategic move underscores a broader push to foster sports growth and inclusivity throughout the Philippines.
