An outright semifinals berth awaits the team that will complete a preliminary round sweep in the coming 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference opening later this month.

PVL control committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo said the league will introduce a new format to the all-local competition, slated to begin on 31 January, from the one used in the previous season.

“We’ll have a sweep category this time. If a team sweeps the prelims, it will secure an automatic semis seat,” Malonzo said.

Last year, the AFC lasted almost six months as teams played a single round robin prelims to determine their ranking for the knockout qualifying round. Losing teams were then relegated to a two-pool play-in tournament for another round-robin format, with the last two quarterfinals seats at stake.

This time, the tournament will be shorter, Malonzo said assuming that there will only be 10 teams participating if the proposed “joint venture” between defending champion Petro Gazz and Nxled pushes through.

“The format this time will still be a round-robin (prelims). The Top 4 teams will then play a knockout game with the No. 1 taking on No. 4 and No. 2 against No. 3 for outright semis seats. Except if there will be a sweep,” Malonzo explained.

In case of a sweep, the No. 2 and No. 3 teams will clash for the other free pass to the Final Four.

Teams ranked No. 5 to 10 will then be bunched using a serpentine format into two groups playing in a stepladder format. The survivor from each group will then challenge the No. 3 and No. 4 squads in a do-or-die match for the remaining semis tickets.

“The concept of the format is that the round-robin first round will serve as a team’s placing. So, the lower your placing, the harder it will be for you to get into the semis. But at least you’ll still have a chance to advance, albeit in a harder route through the stepladder,” Malonzo said.

“Unlike for teams ranked 1 to 4, you’ll just need to win one knockout game to get into the semis. Unless, of course, you sweep the first round, then you’ll get an automatic semis seat,” he added.

“It doesn’t mean that you finished with a bad record in the prelims you’ll get eliminated. You’ll still have a chance to get into the semis.”

The semis will be a round-robin affair with the top two advancing in the best-of-three finals.

Malonzo, however, said that changes could be added if the Petro Gazz-Nxled fizzles out and the field remains at its current status of 11 squads.

“Either way, we’re ready for that,” the ever-amiable official quipped.        

Even before the official start of the tournament, clubs are already engaged in an exciting arms race.

Signings have been announced by teams left and right, with more shocking roster shakeups expected in the coming days.

Teams are submitting their initial lineups on 10 January.

Players are allowed to be added by teams with slots in the official 20-woman roster, even after the conference starts, as long as they are free agents.