CITY OF IMUS, CAVITE — Some of the country's top collegiate volleyball teams brought their A-game to Imus, and the city delivered. The Imus Sports Complex served as the venue for the Round of 8 of the 2026 Shakey's Super League Unity Cup, hosting the crucial matches that determined which teams would move closer to the semifinals. And the opening day of the Round of 8 didn't disappoint.
The Match That Set the Tone
In a tightly contested Pool F opener, UST weathered a fourth-set scare to defeat Ateneo, 25-16, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21. The Golden Tigresses controlled the first two sets, only to lose steam in the third, but they showed resolve in the fourth, holding off a late Ateneo rally to seal the win in two hours and nine minutes. Marga Altea led UST with 15 points, while Ashlee Knop added 12, with Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado contributing 11 markers each.
The Other Match at Imus
UP recovered from an opening-set loss to defeat Letran, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-16. Jelai Gajero pumped in 17 points to lead the Fighting Maroons, who drew closer to clinching a quarterfinals incentive. The Round of 8 at Imus featured the top collegiate teams in the country, including National University, College of Saint Benilde, Far Eastern University, Adamson University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and Ateneo de Manila University.
The Stakes and Why This Matters
The 2026 Unity Cup isn't just about pride; it's about a significant cash prize pool, with the champion taking home PHP 1,000,000, the runner-up PHP 600,000, and third place PHP 300,000. Individual award winners receive PHP 10,000 each, while the tournament MVP gets PHP 30,000. Hosting the Round of 8 of a national collegiate tournament is a statement. It shows that Imus has the facilities—and the community support—to be a serious player in Philippine sports tourism. For local volleyball fans, it was a rare chance to watch the country's best collegiate teams compete live, without the drive to Metro Manila. For the city, it was an opportunity to showcase the Imus Sports Complex as a premier venue.
