Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) – The opening of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference has been moved from Feb. 16 to March 16, league president Ricky Palou announced on Friday.
The original target opening date for the 2022 PVL Open Conference was on Feb. 16.
Palou said the opening date adjustment will allow the nine teams to have a competitive pre-season training.
The league management has yet to decide whether the upcoming Open Conference will be held in a bubble setup at either the Aquamarine Sports Complex in Lipa, Batangas or Royale Tagaytay in Alfonso, Cavite, or a closed circuit setup in Metro Manila if COVID-19 cases in the region are already low.
“We are also looking at the possibility of holding it here in Metro Manila depending on the situation,” said Palou. “By mid-February, we will know what our alert level will be.”
The PVL president also announced the format for the 2022 Open Conference will also be shortened into a four-week tournament ending on April 9, from its previous three-month schedule.
“We have to shorten our conference to make way for the training of the national team,” said Palou.
The national women’s volleyball team is slated to compete in the 31st Southeast Asian Games from May 12-23 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
For the first time, the league will hold a pool play format where the nine squads will be divided into two groups. One pool will have five teams.
The top four teams per group will advance to the knockout quarterfinals, where the top two teams in each pool will each earn a twice-to-beat advantage.
The nine competing teams are defending Open Conference champion Chery Tiggo Crossovers, runner-up Creamline Cool Smashers, third placer Petro Gazz Angels, Choco Mucho Flying Titans, Philippine Army, PLDT Home Fibr High Speed Hitters, BaliPure Purest Water Defenders, Cignal HD Spikers, and the returning F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors and Perlas Spikers both took a leave of absence for the 2022 PVL season due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.
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