PVL works on ITC

The Premier Volleyball League is working closely with the country's volleyball federation to ensure that foreign players will be cleared to see action in the Reinforced Conference next month.

PVL commissioner Tonyboy Liao said that the league has sought the help of Philippine National Volleyball Federation for the processing of international transfer certificates and other necessary documents of foreign players who will compete in the import-laden conference that starts on 8 October at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Liao, who also sits as the PNVF national team chairman, was particularly concerned with the release of foreign players that are national team members of their respective countries.

The International Volleyball Federation each year has a so-called national team window that starts 15 May to 15 October.

"We wrote a letter to Tats (PNVF president Ramon Suzara) and he said he will write a letter to FIVB if we can have a little leeway or an earlier release of foreign players who are members of their country's national team," Liao said.

"Instead of October 15 maybe by October 8, they can allow those national team members who are being recruited for the Reinforced Conference to apply for ITCs. Those players who will be affected by the national team calendar."

Foreign players must secure an ITC to be able to play in leagues abroad or risk sanctions from the FIVB. National team players must also secure clearance from their respective federations.

"He assured us that he will exhaust all efforts to ensure that foreign players will be cleared to play," Liao said.

This will be the first time that the PVL will hold a Reinforced Conference as a professional league.

In 2019, Petro Gazz behind Cuban import Wilma Salas and American Janisa Johnson captured the Reinforced Conference title in a thrilling three-game encounter with fancied Creamline.

Liao, meanwhile, said that while names of possible foreign players of certain clubs are already circulating on social media, the league has yet to receive the official rosters of teams.

"The league has yet to receive the lineups of participating teams so we can't say who will be their reinforcements," he said.

"We have a deadline for the submission of rosters so until then we still don't know who will officially be listed as imports."

Nine teams will vie for the season-ending crown with each club fielding one foreign player.

Reigning Open Conference and Invitational Conference champion Creamline will shoot for a season sweep but will surely face stiff competition from Petro Gazz, PLDT, Cignal, Army, Choco Mucho and Cherry Tiggo. As well as from returning F2 Logistics, which skipped the Invitational Conference, and newcomer Akari.