
Four teams open their respective title campaigns when the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference fires off Saturday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Cignal HD tests its mettle against Army Black-Mamba in the 2:30 p.m. curtain raiser followed by Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo, which clash at 5:30 p.m.
Cignal is expected to set out for another strong start the way it did in the recent Open Conference, where it swept its way to the semifinals, but hopes to eclipse its third-place finish.
The HD Spikers will have Rachel Anne Daquis, Angeli Araneta, Gel Cayuna, Genn Layug, Frances Molina, Ria Meneses, Jerrili Malabanan and the comebacking Grazielle Bombita at the forefront of their attack.
But with Jovelyn Gonzaga back in the Army fold, the Lady Troopers also aim for a winning start, along with Honey Royse Tubino, Christine Agno, Sarah Gonzales, Michelle Morente, Jem Gutierrez and Angela Nunag.
Seven teams, including Creamline, Petro Gazz and PLDT, dispute the top four berths in the next round where two foreign squads – the Japan Kobe Shinwa University and Chinese-Taipei’s King Whales – will spice up the title chase in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
In the other pairing, expect the tall, young and talented crew of Choco Mucho to also serve notice of its title bid with Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon, Ponggay Gaston and Deanna Wong leading their charge.
Chery Tiggo is also out for redemption following an eighth place finish in the Open Conference with Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Maika Ortis, Jasmine Nabor and Shaya Adorador hoping to deliver more.