By NIKOLE JAVIER
The stakes just got higher for all nine participating teams in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference with the eventual champion having the right to represent the Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next year.
PVL president Ricky Palou announced the development during the league’s press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 5, as the tournament kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
“The PNVF has said that they’ll probably look at the champion of this tournament, (from) the reinforced tournament to represent the country in the Southeast Asian Games which will be in May, this will be in Cambodia,” revealed Palou.
With the reigning champion Creamline Cool Smashers on board after donning the Philippine flag in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women and ASEAN Grand Prix in the last two months, the remaining teams will be on the hunt for the top favorite.
Aside from the 16 local players that will be fielded in the tournament, only one import will be allowed to play on the official roster of each team.
The development has also warranted the coaching staff to invite additional players who will complete the cast for the international tilt.
“Obviously, the guest foreign players will have a team on winning the championship this conference. We have the import, the team may not be that strong, so I think we’ll be leaving it up to the coaching staff to determine whether they will have additional players just to reinforce,” he added.