PVL working on July 17 season opener

Local indoor volleyball action is getting closer to its much-awaited return after more than a year of hiatus.

Barring any complication, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) has penciled to open its inaugural season as a professional fixture on July 17 in Laoag City pending the approval of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

PVL president Ricky Palou said they will seek to open the season on the said date in a letter they would send to GAB, which will come once the provincial government of Ilocos Norte clears them.

"That's (July 17) what we're working on right now," Palou told GMA News Online in an interview.

"As soon as we submit all the documents to GAB, maybe after days and after they inspect the venue and the hotel, they would approve it."

Palou said the tournament will be held for at least seven weeks with the elimination round running for five weeks while the playoffs will be staged in two.

For the eliminations, three games will be staged each day and will run six days a week. The top four finishers will head to the semifinals where the No. 1 at the top of standings will face the No. 4 while the No. 2 and No. 3 placers will clash.

Winners from both brackets will battle for the championship while losers will fight for the bronze, both of which are in a best-of-three series.

Palou said only 11 teams will join the showpiece with the Unlimited Athletics Club opting not to field a team in this particular tourney.

With the Power Hitters out, the PVL will still feature some powerhouse clubs like the defending champion Creamline, along with title contenders Choco Mucho, BanKo Perlas, Petro Gazz, Philippine Army, and BaliPure.

Chery Tiggo, Cignal, F2 Logistics, PLDT, and Sta. Lucia are also set for their pro debuts after jumping ship to PVL from the Philippine Superliga (PSL).

Palou said they're now in the final steps of their preparation as they are being cautious with the health and safety protocols.

"We hope everything goes well with the list of protocols because we can't have any mistakes here," Palou said.

"This is historic for us because this is the first-ever return of indoor volleyball in this pandemic and it has to be perfect in terms of the safety of the players and everyone involved."

—JMB, GMA News