Fiercer and more explosive battles await fans as local indoor volleyball leagues brace for a thrilling 2024 season.
Creamline’s dynasty in the Premier Volleyball League is sure to face a tougher challenge while men’s club competition will also take its spotlight and collegiate wars take the spotlight in the first quarter of the year.
Coming off a banner year, the country’s first and only women’s professional league is set to introduce new teams while player movements add anticipation and excitement for the coming PVL season set to begin on 17 February.
The league has yet to announce what tournament will be staged for its season-opening conference.
Still, all eyes remain on the Cool Smashers as they get another crack at completing a season sweep.
Behind its star-studded and experienced roster, Creamline ruled the two editions of the
all-local contests including a perfect championship run in the 2nd All-Filipino Conference capped by a Philippine volleyball record-breaking crowd of 24,459 who witnessed its finals Game 2 win over sister team Choco Mucho.
But the Cool Smashers are in for a strong resistance from opposing clubs which shored up their lineup to challenge Creamline’s reign.
The PVL is also looking at the return of the import-laden Reinforced Conference while Japanese club Kurashiki Ablaze is expected to return to defend their Invitational Conference crown.
On the other hand, the much-anticipated University Athletic Association of the Philippines volleyball season is set to begin by late February.
Reigning Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Angel Canino will be back to lead the charge of De La Salle University for back-to-back women’s titles in Season 86.
National University, meanwhile, shoots for a four-peat on the men’s side.
College of Saint Benilde looks to extend its two-year unbeaten streak for a three-peat in women’s competition as the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 gets underway three months from now.
Defending champion University of Perpetual Help System Dalta eyes to make it four in a row in the men’s contest.
Meanwhile, organizers of the Spikers’ Turf vow to elevate the men’s club competition to a higher level and increase its popularity.
The same goes for the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association, which plans to hold a longer tournament by late March or early April after its inaugural season’s resounding success last year.
High school volleyball will be showcased in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League.
Collegiate teams from all over the Philippines get to measure each other in Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals and the SSL Collegiate Pre-Season Championship.
Also holding a third season is the V.League Collegiate Challenge while the Philippine National Volleyball Federation is expected to hold another edition of the Challenge Cup.
Other tournaments and competitions are also set to be staged in yet another busy calendar for local indoor volleyball.
