Every team a ‘contender’ as PVL kicks off reinforced conference

MANILA, Philippines—The rest of the Premier Volleyball League field is expected to give defending champion Creamline a run for their money in the coming Reinforced Conference.

PVL president Ricky Palou said the level of competition is balanced with each team capable of beating the other.

“That’s why we expect exciting games. The teams are more competitive and at par with each other. Every team is a contender,” Palou said Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Amelie Hotel-Manila.

Returning BaliPure and debuting Pacific Town Army kick off the new conference on Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by Creamline against Petro Gazz at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

“This is interesting but we want to defend our title. Our imports have been here since March so we’ve been practicing with them for more than a month now. Hopefully, the chemistry is already there,” said Creamline superstar Alyssa Valdez.

The Cool Smashers will parade Kuttika Kaewpin of Thailand and Aleoscar Blanco of Venezuela.

Petro Gazz, on the other hand, brought in Wilma Salas of Cuba and American Janisa Ivette Johnson.