Numerous rule changes usher in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference starting 20 February, competition director Sherwin Malonzo announced on Wednesday.
Malonzo said the league will revert to two technical timeouts per set after the eighth and 16th points instead of one timeout per set after the 13th point, a rule that was used in the Second All-Filipino Conference last year.
Players also must now stay on the court whenever a team goes for a video challenge, the PVL said during a press conference Wednesday.
The PVL starts with Petro Gazz facing Strong Group Athletics at 4 p.m. In the second game, Chery Tiggo takes on Capital1 at 6 p.m at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“This coming conference, we’ll be bringing back the eighth and 16th technical timeouts. Each timeout will be 30 seconds but the players need to stay on the court during a video challenge,” said Malonzo, who added that green cards will be used this conference for fair play or acts of honesty inside the court.
“The change of courts per set will remain. After the second set, the teams will stay on their sides until the eighth point of the fifth.”
Last season’s First and Second All-Filipino champion Creamline banners the 12 squads that will duke it out for the PVL crown.
Joining the Cool Smashers in the All-Filipino Conference apart from the Angels, Crossovers are Solar Spikers, Strong Group Athletics, Akari, Choco Mucho, Cignal, Farm Fresh, Galeries, Nxled, Petro Gazz and PLDT.
This conference will have all 12 teams go through a single round robin with the top four teams going through another single round robin in the semifinals.
The top two teams will face off in a best-of-three finals while the bottom two of the semifinals will be relegated to the bronze medal match, which is also going to be a race-to-two affair.
Teams that will be tied in the No. 2 spot in the semifinals will be settled in a playoff match to determine who will march through to the championship round.
With collegiate leagues such as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association clashing with the current PVL conference, the much-anticipated PVL Draft will begin in June with the age requirement set at 21 years old.
“Come June, all new players will apply for the draft,” Malonzo said.
“The basic eligibility to join the draft is 21 years old on the day of the draft,” he added.
“Regardless if you are in college or high school, that age will be the standard for now. We’re still furnishing the regulations of the draft.”
PVL president Ricky Palou likewise raised the concept of adding a salary cap in the league but will make sure to get every team’s feedback regarding the matter.
Currently, teams hire players directly from amateur and semi-professional leagues and salaries and contracts would vary per squad.
“We would really like to install a salary cap,” Palou said.
“We are preparing some guidelines on what will go into the salary cap and we will present it to the teams. We want to get their inputs as well. Some might feel our recommendation might be too low or too high so we’ll see.”
