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| (Image Source: Premier Volleyball League) |
With a fresh format and a lineup packed with talented reinforcements, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is gearing up for another thrilling Reinforced Conference starting on July 16, 2024 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. In line with its mission to deliver top-notch matches and heightened excitement for fans, the country’s premier volleyball league has divided its 12 teams into two groups based on their rankings from the recent All-Filipino Conference. Champion Creamline, Chery Tiggo, Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower, Nxled and PLDT comprise Pool A while defending Reinforced Conference titlist Petro Gazz headlines the Pool B roster joined by Akari, Capital1, Cignal, Choco Mucho and ZUS Coffee.
The group phase will feature two stages, starting with a single round-robin format. In the second round, the top three teams from Pool A will face the bottom three from Pool B in Pool C while the top three squads from Pool B will compete against the lower-ranked teams of Pool A in Pool D. Following the preliminaries, teams will be ranked using the Fédéracion Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Classification System. The top eight squads will move on to the knockout quarterfinals. Winners will advance to the semifinals which will also be decided in a do-or-die match. The top two teams from the semis will compete in a winner-take-all gold medal match while the losers will battle for bronze. The PVL Reinforced Conference will feature three games on all preliminary game days, paving the way for the Invitational Conference set for September.
The opening day promises intense matchups, starting with the Highrisers supported by Brazilian reinforcement Monique Helena facing the Nxled squad at 2:00 pm. Meanwhile, at 4:00 pm, American spiker Katherine Bell and the Crossovers will challenge the Foxies. The main event at 6:00 pm will see the Cool Smashers, led by Erika Staunton from the USA, against returning Russian hitter Lena Samoilenko and the PLDT High Speed Hitters. Other reinforcements ready to showcase their talents include Oly Okaro (Akari), Marina Tushova (Capital1), MJ Perez (Cignal), Zoi Faki (Choco Mucho), and Asaka Tamaru (ZUS Coffee) while Nxled, Petro Gazz and Farm Fresh have yet to announce their imports. Aside from the high-octane volleyball action, volleyball fans will also look forward to PVL's continuing evolution throughout the new season with the various innovations to improve the level of play and parity in the field and add excitement to the competition.
PVL recently held its inaugural Rookie Draft where the participating teams were able to select potential stars from a crop of aspirants coming from the collegiate and amateur ranks, adding glamour to the sport that is now rivaling the popularity of basketball in the Philippines. Aside from the draft, the league has also implemented the awarding of green cards during games to teams that will display fairness, honesty and true sportsmanship in the face of intense competition. Nxled was the first recipient of the Fair Play award for the number of accumulated green cards it had during the course of the season-opening All-Filipino Conference. The PVL also improved its use of the Video Challenge System. Adhering to international standards, the league introduced the system during the 2022 Reinforced Conference and has been a game-changer ever since. Introduced by FIVB in 2012, the video challenge allows coaches to call for a review to verify a referee’s decision on a certain action. It adds more thrill to the game as players and spectators share the excitement of watching on the big screen whether the challenge is successful or not.
“Actually, the video challenge that has been used by the league these past years improved a lot in volleyball, especially in officiating. It not only helps our referees (make the right call) but also gives spectators a chance to see how outcomes are decided per action because of the video challenge. We have a big screen to display what was being challenged and if the referees got the wrong or right call,” said PVL Chairman Tony Boy Liao. Video challenges proved very crucial for the sport where every single point counts. Games have been won and lost through decisive video challenges. The league uses the standard 21-camera set-up for the system operated by a two-man crew with three trained referees rotating as video challenge officials. The PVL also constantly updates its challenge system software and equipment. Operators go through seminars and training to enhance their skills.
Games of the PVL Reinforced Conference are aired on One Sports, One Sports+, RPTV and via livestreaming through Pilipinas Live. Fans can keep up to date with the latest happenings around the league through PVL's social media platforms and official website. Fans should also anticipate a longer and more exciting All-Filipino Conference, the league's biggest offering this season, slated to run from October 2024 to May 2025. More surprises await volleyball fans in the coming months that only the PVL can offer.
