Coaches of PVL teams at the press conference for the all-Philippines 2023 Finals. – PVL . PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Premier League Volleyball Championship will return to pre-pandemic rituals, including traditional handshakes and pitch changes, starting with the 2023 All-Philippines Games next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
PVL tournament director Tonyboy Liao revealed for the first time the development of the relaxation of health and safety protocols in four years.
“We will repeat the protocols that happened before the pandemic. During the match, when both teams were introduced during the pandemic, both teams raised their hands in salute. But now, you go straight to your opponent and shake hands with them,” Liao said at a press conference Saturday at Discovery Suites. “We are also bringing back the convertible side. So every other department, change the court.
Liao added that the league is still providing both teams with bottled alcohol that they can use before, during and after the game.
Defending champions Creamline, who have not changed their roster, will defend their crown with star scorer Alyssa Valdez still unsure when she will return to action due to a knee injury last season.
But coach Sherwin Meneses, who led his team to two championships last season, said they intend to keep their squad, believing familiarity and chemistry is their biggest advantage.
“Our #1 game plan is to keep all the players. Because of our continuous system and chemical reaction will be an advantage,” Meneses said in Filipino. “Other teams strengthen their squads. For us, we will focus on our own improvement. Hopefully we’ll have a great season even if we don’t have Alyssa at the start of this season.”
GROUP REPRESENTATIVE
Players of PVL teams during the press conference for the all-Philippines 2023. –PVL PHOTO
Eight other clubs have undergone major changes with Choco Mucho exploiting a multi-title male coach Dante AlinsunurinF2 Logistics contracted coach Regine Diego and breakout star Myla Pablo, coach Petro Gazz acquired Oliver Almadro, reinforced champion coach Rald Ricafort switched to PLDT and Akari became the hunted mutant most welcome Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
Enhanced runner-up Cignal, who also won bronze in the first two games last year, also strengthened its roster after signing former FEU members Chinchin Basas, Gyzelle Sy and Gen Casugod reunites with coach Shaq Delos Santos. Chery Tiggo also reinstated Aaron Velez as head coach, directing the spearheads for the team led by Mylene Paat, while Army debuted coach Randy Fallorina and competed without Jovelyn Gonzaga due to her commitment. with the Philippine women’s beach volleyball team.
“I’m sure the fans will love this. Even I am expecting the games to be more interesting this time. PVL President Ricky Palou said: “The teams have recruited players to strengthen their squads, so we expect a really good All-Philippines Games this time around.”
New Choco Mucho coach Alinsunurin believes Creamline and Petro Gazz are the teams to beat. But Diego and Velez are predicting an open race.
“For F2, because of all these changes with the coaches and so many transfers. I think people should not be complacent. We have to be prepared all the time because I think everyone is a threat, and every game is going to be a learning game for us,” said new Cargo Movers coach Diego.
“For me, you can’t fall asleep on any team. As we have seen from the previous conference, you should not expect less as everyone will fight hard with you. So everyone is a competitor,” Velez said.
The All-Filipino conference will open next week with Creamline and Petro Gazz, finalists of last year’s Open, facing off against each other on Feb. 4 at the Big Dome at 6pm after the Akari- Choco Mucho.
The video challenge system will be played in every match with the nine clubs clashing in a round-robin format in the knockout stages. The top 4 teams will advance to the semi-finals and compete in a round robin.
The top two teams will play in the Grand Finals of the three, while the 3rd and 4th seeds will face off in the bronze medal series.
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