PVL going All-Filipino anew

The Premier Volleyball League will stage another All-Filipino Conference to cap its successful 2023 season.

Barred from acquiring the services of foreign guest players for the supposed season-ending tournament Reinforced Conference, the league has decided to push through with a second serving of an all-local competition slated to begin in October.

"Yes, we will have a third conference but this time it will be back to the All-Filipino," PVL president Ricky Palou said, with the league unable to secure international transfer certificates for foreign imports.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation in a memo last June recommended the league, "to refrain from contracting foreign guest players requiring to undergo the ITC procedure for 2023" and that ITC requests originating from PVL teams "will not be processed."

This sanction came up following the league's alleged violation of Article 6.1.1.b of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball Sports Regulations 2022 which stated that the national team period from 16 May to 15 October shall be prioritized in the calendar.

The league, however, has been loaning players to the national team at PNVF's request.

"We can't secure an (ITC), according to PNVF president Mr. (Tats) Suzara, the FIVB is blocking our request for ITCs. So,we're going to proceed with it (third conference) but All-Filipino," Palou explained.

Securing an ITC is a major requirement for a foreign guest player to be able to play in the import-laden conference.

The PVL is looking at kicking off the All-Filipino Conference in the third week of October.

"We're looking at starting maybe on October 16 or 17 around that time and we will go through until December. We will play one round robin, semifinals and then the finals. The semis and the finals will both be best-of-three series," Palou said.

"Right now, we'd like to get more playing dates from (Smart) Araneta and Mall of Asia Arena. But of course, subject to availability so most probably we will host our games at PhilSports (Arena)."

Powerhouse Creamline will try to defend its All-Filipino crown in a redemption campaign after a runner-up finish behind Japanese club Kurashiki Ablaze in the recently concluded Invitational Conference.