The Philippine women’s volleyball team preparing for the Southeast Asian Games will have to resolve a ticklish issue on how players belonging to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) can suit up when the squad plays as a guest team in the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
A stint in the PSL Invitationals this month is up for the Nationals, but the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI), the sport’s governing body in the country, wouldn’t comment on whether players from the rival PVL will see action in the PSL event.
“The good thing now is that [PSL] team owners agreed that when players in the national team face their mother teams, they will have to play for the national team,” said LVPI vice president Peter Cayco.
Key players in the national squad like Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado and Maddie Madayag are playing in the PVL, and not allowing them to play in the Invitationals denies them the chance to develop together with the team.
Veteran opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga is a special case since she plays in both league. The lefty hitter plays for PacificTown-Army in the PVL as an enlisted personnel, and with Cignal in the PSL.
The Philippine team, now in Thailand for training and the SEA Grand Prix inaugural leg, will also fly to Japan in November for another training camp.