The Premier Volleyball League remains committed to helping the national cause.
PVL president Ricky Palou told Daily Tribune that they are ready to sit down with Philippine National Volleyball Federation leadership to align its 2024 calendar with the local sports body.
Pro players have been heeding the call to represent the national squad in various international competitions. However, conflict of schedule has been a huge issue as some clubs couldn’t commit their players to suit up due to ongoing tournaments.
Limited time for preparation and training, if the national squad did get to assemble a team with PVL stars, is also a major issue.
“We want to sit down with them and align our calendar so that there won’t be any conflict,” Palou said.
“Of course, we want the national team to be better. For them to train better and for players to be available.”
The PNVF announced last June that it would not process the international transfer certificates of foreign guest players looking to see action in the PVL for 2023 citing that the league “scheduled its season and conferences coinciding with the stipulated National Team season and without due and express authorization.”
PNVF’s action forced the league to suspend its staging of the Reinforced Conference temporarily and instead held a second All-Filipino Conference.
The season-ending 2nd AFC made history with its Philippine volleyball record crowd of more than 24,400 gate attendance during Game 2 of the finals between eventual champion Creamline and sister team Choco Mucho at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the PNVF’s ITC restrictions expiring at the end of the year and the 2024 PVL season beginning on 17 February, the Reinforced Conference could make its return as it will fall outside of the FIVB-mandated National Team period that runs from May to October.
However, Palou said that the league will still meet with the member clubs in early January to decide if they’ll pursue an import-laden tournament or stick with the traditional schedule of all-local competition to start the year.
“We’re letting the teams decide if they want an all-Filipino or with import. We’ll know by the first week of January,” he said.
“I guess they will try first if they can still tap good imports. If not, they’ll surely decide to have (another All-Filipino). (But) we’ll see.”
