Siklab tests overhauled PVL squads

More than a fresh offering for its milestone 10th season, the Premier Volleyball League’s Siklab opening leg promises a fascinating test of how quickly new pieces can come together.

With free agency and the rookie draft reshaping rosters across the league, the All-Filipino Conference unfolds Saturday at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena with new faces, new combinations and, for several teams, vastly different looks.

The result could be a season-opener filled with surprises — and perhaps the unexpected — as the country’s premier volleyball league marks a decade of competition.

The offseason saw teams take markedly different approaches to strengthening their rosters. Some opted for continuity, while others aggressively addressed their biggest needs through free agency and the rookie draft, adding talent capable of immediately changing their fortunes.

No team, however, made a louder statement than Capital1.

The Solar Spikers went all-in during the break, surrounding starBella Belenwith a collection of marquee acquisitions headlined by former league Most Valuable Players (MVPs) Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, both from Cignal, and veteran setter Jaja Mara th overall pick Khy Cepada, further deepening a roster that now looms as a serious contender.

To maximize the potential of its Belen-Gandler-Santos combination, the Solar Spikers also brought in former Galeries Tower ace setter Julia Coronel, adding another key piece to an ambitious overhaul.

But while Capital1 made the biggest splash, several other teams made calculated moves to shore up their lineups and strengthen their rotations heading into Siklab.

Nxled, for one, addressed key needs across the court. Six-time Best Setter Gel Cayuna gives the Chameleons an accomplished playmaker, Jackie Acuna adds reinforcement in the middle, while fifth overall pick Irah Jaboneta brings youth and promise to the libero position.

The moves already appear to be paying dividends, with Nxled advancing to the recent PVL On Tour Final.