Kathmandu, Sept. 15 -- When Mongolian outside hitter Uranbayar Munkhbayar won the man of the match award in the final of the Nepal Volleyball League on Saturday, it came as a surprise to nobody. The 21-year-old, towering at nearly 6.5ft, was the standout performer of the inaugural franchise league, which promised to herald a new era of Nepali volleyball. Munkhbayar was key in Annapurna Super Kings' triumph over Karnali Shivraj in the final. Munkhbayar won three MOTM awards in the tournament.

Munkhbayar was not the sole foreigner to outshine Nepalis in the tournament. Of the 17 matches between six teams, overseas players won the MOTM awards in 13. In the other four matches, Pahal Gahatraj, marquee and skipper of Karnali, grabbed the award...