Itataya ng Creamline ang kanilang All-Filipino crown sa paglarga ng third conference sa Oktubre. PHOTO COURTESY OF CREAMLINE’S FACEBOOK PAGE
MAGBABALIK ang Premier Volleyball League (PVL) para sa third conference subalit sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi ang Reinforced tilt.
Ayon kay PVL president Ricky Palou, magdaraos pa rin sila ng isa pang conference para sa 2023 season subalit isa itong pag-uulit ng All-Filipino Conference sa kaagahan ng taon.
Paliwanag ni Palou, hindi nila maipagpapatuloy ang import-backed third conference dahil hinarang ng FIVB ang kanilang kahilingan para sa international transfer certificates (ITCs) para sa posibleng reinforcements ng mga koponan.
“We will have a third conference but this time, it will be back to the All-Filipino kasi hindi nga nakakuha ng [ITC]. according to the PNVF president Mr. [Tats] Suzara, the FIVB is blocking our request fo ITCs. So we’re we’re going to proceed with it [third conference] but All-Filipino,” ani Palou.
Target ng PVL na simulan ang last conference sa mid-October hanggang December.
“We’re looking at starting maybe on October 16 or 17 around that time and we will go through until December. We will play one round-robin, semifinals and then the finals. Best-of-three ‘yung semis, best-of-three ‘yung finals,” aniya.
Target ng PVL na laruin ang games sa Mall of Asia Arena, Araneta Coliseum at Philsports Arena sa Pasig City.
“We’d like to get playing dates at the Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia but this will be subject to (these venues’) availability. Otherwise, most games will be played at the Philsports Arena,” sabi ni Palou.
Ayon kay Palou, may 12 koponan ang inaasahang magbabakbakan sa All-Filipino conference, bagama’t may ilan pang nagpahayag ng interes na lumahok sa torneo.
“We’re looking at 12 teams. We have received feelers asking if they could join. But one of the league’s conditions is whether it will be for long-term since we want those coming in to commit to stay with the league for the long-term,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang PVL ay galing sa matagumpay na Invitational Conference kung saan hinubaran ng korona ng foreign guest team na Kurashiki Ablaze ng Japan ang Creamline Cool Smashers sa isang kapana-panabik na five-setter match sa championship noong nakaraang Linggo.
Samantala, idedepensa ng Cool Smashers ang kanilang All-Filipino title sa third conference.
