The 2026 Shakey's Super League Unity Cup will be the fifth edition of the collegiate volleyball competition organized by the Shakey's Super League and the third and final SSL tournament of 2026. The tournament will start on Sept. 25 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum featuring 17 teams from the UAAP (7) and the NCAA (10).
The NU Lady Bulldogs entered this tournament as the four-time defending pre-season champions. De La Salle Lady Spikers will take another leave of absence due to injuries to some of its key players while the UE Lady Warriors makes a comeback after skipping last year's edition.
Participating teams + Team School Collegiate league Adamson Lady Falcons Adamson University UAAP Arellano Lady Chiefs Arellano University NCAA Ateneo Blue Eagles Ateneo de Manila University UAAP Benilde Lady Blazers De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde NCAA EAC Lady Generals Emilio Aguinaldo College NCAA FEU Lady Tamaraws Far Eastern University UAAP JRU Lady Bombers José Rizal University NCAA Letran Lady Knights Colegio de San Juan de Letran NCAA Lyceum Lady Pirates Lyceum of the Philippines University NCAA Mapúa Lady Cardinals Mapúa University NCAA NU Lady Bulldogs National UniversityUAAP Perpetual Lady Altas University of Perpetual Help System DALTA NCAA San Beda Lady Red Spikers San Beda University NCAA San Sebastian Lady Stags San Sebastian College – Recoletos NCAA UE Lady Red Warriors University of the East UAAP UP Fighting Maroons University of the Philippines UAAP UST Golden Tigresses University of Santo Tomas UAAP
Pool composition The seventeen teams from the UAAP (7) and NCAA (10) will compete in this tournament. The teams are then divided into four pools. Pools A, B, C and D will consist of four teams per pool. The pool composition is as follows: Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D NU Lady Bulldogs UST Golden Tigresses FEU Lady Tamaraws Adamson Lady Falcons Arellano Lady Chiefs Benilde Lady Blazers Ateneo Blue Eagles Lyceum Lady Pirates Letran Lady Knights JRU Lady Bombers EAC Lady Generals UE Lady Red Warriors Perpetual Lady Altas Mapúa Lady Cardinals San Sebastian Lady Stags UP Fighting Maroons San Beda Lady Red Spikers colspan=3
Venues
Preliminaries Manila Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC) Capacity: 6,100
Format The format of this year's Unity Cup will remain unchanged, with its all-to-play rule still intact.
First round Single-round robin format; 4 pools; Teams are ranked using the FIVB Ranking System. The top two teams per pool will advance to the second round. Second round Single-round robin format; 2 pools; Teams are ranked using the FIVB Ranking System. The W-L record in the first round will be carried over in the second round. After another pool play, the eight teams will battle in the crossover quarterfinals. Quarterfinals (twice-to-beat) QF1: E1 vs. F4 (E1 twice-to-beat) QF3: F2 vs. E3 (F2 twice-to-beat) QF2: F1 vs. E4 (F1 twice-to-beat) QF4: E2 vs. F3 (E2 twice-to-beat) Semifinals (knockout stage) SF1: QF #1 vs. QF #3 SF2: QF #2 vs. QF #4 Finals Bronze medal match (knockout stage) SF1 Loser vs SF2 Loser Gold medal match (Best-of-three series) SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner
Pool standing procedure First, teams are ranked by the number of matches won. If the number of matches won is tied, the tied teams are then ranked by match points, wherein: Match won 3–0 or 3–1: 3 match points for the winner, 0 match points for the loser. Match won 3–2: 2 match points for the winner, 1 match point for the loser. In case of any further ties, the following criteria shall be used: Set ratio: the number of sets won divided by number of sets lost. Point ratio: number of points scored divided by number of points allowed. Head-to-head standings: any remaining tied teams are ranked based on the results of head-to-head matches involving the teams in question.
First round All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00). The top two teams per pool advance to the second round.
Pool A
Pool B
Pool C
Pool D
Final standing RankTeam 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1617
Team RosterHead coach
Awards and medalists Individual awards
AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable Player 1st Best Outside Spiker 2nd Best Outside Spiker 1st Best Middle Blocker 2nd Best Middle Blocker Best Opposite Spiker Best Setter Best Libero
Medalists GoldSilverBronze
References