Only professional players will be called up when the Philippine National Volleyball Federation assembles the composition of the women's national team for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next year.

PNVF national team commission chairman Tonyboy Liao told Daily Tribune on Tuesday that the federation is looking at tapping the top athletes from the Premier Volleyball League to represent the country in the Phnom Penh edition of the biennial meet set to begin on 5 May 2023.

"It was already agreed upon by the PNVF that the national team selection will again come from the PVL and will be made to represent the national team in the SEA Games," Liao, an old hand in volleyball who is also the PVL commissioner, said.

Liao added that national team head coach Jorge Edson de Brito "will do a selection from the PVL based on their performance in the Reinforced Conference."

The import-laden Reinforced Conference will begin 8 October.

This is not the first time that the Philippines will send an all-pro national squad on the international stage.

In fact, the PVL had already loaned powerhouse Creamline to carry the tricolors in two prestigious international competitions despite short notice.

Despite losing ace hitter Alyssa Valdez due to dengue, the Cool Smashers took on the challenge of representing the country in the AVC Cup for Women last month where the Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza-bannered Nationals recorded the Philippines' best finish in the tournament at sixth place.

Just last week, the Creamline flew to Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand to participate in the 2nd ASEAN Grand Prix.

The Cool Smashers came in as a late replacement after the PNVF released players from the original national team composed of the core of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 84 champion National University due to commitment issues.

PNVF had to let go of the college players following the decision of the NU management not to let their student-athletes participate in the PVL Invitational Conference semifinal, which would have served as part of the team's preparation for the AVC Cup for Women, citing health concerns.