PVL eyes three-conference format for 2022 season in February

The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is looking at featuring three conferences when it opens the 2022 season tentatively set to kick off next month.

PVL, the country's first professional volleyball fixture, said that the Open Conference is expected to start on February 16 at either the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila or at Royale Tagaytay.

Regardless of the venue, though, the organizer noted the games will be under a full bubble setup.

"We're looking at three conferences this year which will start with the Open Conference, hopefully, next month in a bubble set up," said PVL president Ricky Palou in a statement posted on the league's website.

"We have Royale Tagaytay as our backup venue in case we won't be allowed to hold our games in Manila. We are still waiting for clearance from the IATF and GAB."

The Open Conference is tipped to run through three months with teams duking it out in a single round robin preliminary round. Top four teams will then clash in a pair of best-of-three semifinal series.

All eyes will be on Chery Tiggo, which is the reigning titleholder after outclassing powerhouse Creamline in their best-of-three finals showdown last August 2021.

Aside from the Crossovers and the Cool Smashers, also tipped to join the tournament are  BaliPure, Choco Mucho, Cignal HD, Perlas Spikers, Petro Gazz, Black Mamba Army, PLDT, and F2 Logistics.

Palou added that two new clubs are applying to join the league but said everything remains up in the air at the moment.

"There are new teams that want to join. We are still deliberating on it and doing our due diligence to see if they are willing to commit to the league for years," said Palou.

—JMB, GMA News