PVL rolls out Collegiate Conference with 12 schools

MANILA, Philippines—The Premier Volleyball League is ramping up its showcase with the Collegiate Conference set to open on Saturday at Filoil Flying V Center.

Defending champion University of the Philippines will sit out this conference but UAAP and NCAA champions Ateneo and Arellano are in the fold to beef up the competition.

Joining Ateneo in group A are University of Perpetual Help, San Beda, Adamson, San Sebastian, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

Arellano, meanwhile, leads group B that includes University of Santo Tomas, College of St. Benilde, Technological Institute of the Philippines, Lyceum, and Far Eastern University.

Some of the collegiate stars who will be suiting up in the tournament are Ponggay Gaston, Regine Arocha, Eya Laure,  Lycha Ebon, Bianca Tripoli, Joyce Sta. Rita, Ella and Nieza Viray, Rocelyn Hongria, Marie Simborio, Rachel Austero, Chiara Permentilla, and Michelle Gamit.

Teams will play in single round robin in the group stage with the top two schools playing in a crossover best-of-three semifinal series.

The finalists will dispute the crown in a  race-to-two showdown while the semis loser fight for the bronze in a knockout match.

The Collegiate Conference will be played simultaneously with the ongoing Open Conference to give way to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games starting November.