Cebu to host topnotch volleyball tourney

Sports

THE soon-to-rise SM Seaside Arena at South Road Properties in Cebu City will host the Women's Nations League (WNL) in 2026 and 2027.

Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), on Tuesday, April 22, announced the major development as the WNL will return to the country for the first time since 2022.

The Philippines previously hosted the tornament's Pool B, which featured teams such as Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Japan, Poland, Thailand, and the United States.

“Although I don’t want to announce it as early as now, but for the next two years, 2026-27, the VNL will come back to Manila, but not in Manila, hopefully in Cebu. In 2026-27, the VNL will be in Cebu, and it will be women’s,” Suzara told reporters per a report by Tiebreaker Times.

Construction of the SM Seaside Arena is expected to be completed before the year ends. Capable of accommodating at least 16,000 people, the SM Seaside Arena is set to become the biggest indoor arena in Cebu.

Suzara's announcement was made during a press conference for the ongoing 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

“So pahinga muna tayo sa men because men’s world championship tayo this year, so 2026, 2027, as agreed with SM, with Hans Sy, we are bringing VNL to Cebu, VNL Women’s 2026 and 2027. So this is a big thing for us, punta tayong lahat sa Cebu because they are building a new arena in Cebu,” Suzara added.

The Cebuano Suzara expressed confidence that Cebu will strongly support the event.

The Premier Volleyball League recently brought its games to Minglanilla town, and thousands came in drove to watch.

“Alam mo naman, the fans in Cebu are really crazy, so they’re very hungry [for volleyball]. Also that’s my home province, I’m a Cebuano,” said Suzara.

Apart from VNL, the country is also gearing up for major volleyball tournaments, including the FIVB Men's World Volleyball Championship in Manila.(CCM)