PVL eyeing bigger venue to bring back fans in time for playoffs
F2 Logistics vs Black Mamba Army in the PVL Open Conference. PVL MEDIA BUREAU
MANILA, Philippines — The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is looking for a bigger venue to bring back the fans starting in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Open Conference.
PVL president Ricky Palou is hoping to see volleyball fans in the stands for the first time in this pandemic with the government easing the COVID-19 restrictions in Metro Manila.
“We plan to move to a bigger venue so we can have the fans watch the games live. Still checking out which venues are available,” said Palou on Wednesday’s opener at Paco Arena.
League Commissioner Tonyboy Liao said they are looking at Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City or the Arena in San Juan.
“We are looking at Ynares Shaw or San Juan Arena. Wherever is available,” he said. “We have to study first the situation during that time.”
The PVL Open Conference is currently staging matches at the Paco Arena under a closed circuit environment with the teams and league and technical officials following strict health protocols behind closed doors.
The pool stage will run until March 24. Eight of the nine squads will advance in the quarterfinals starting on March 27.
Ynares Pasig has hosted PBA games since last year, while San Juan Arena remains as the city’s vaccination site.
The last time the PVL had live audience was in the 2019 Open Conference at the Arena in San Juan before the league returned last year amid the pandemic staging a bubble tournament in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
The Open Conference will have a compressed schedule and will run until April 9 to give way for the Philippine women’s volleyball team’s preparation for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in May. But the league is eyeing to stage two more tournaments this year with the Invitationals in July and the import-flavored Reinforced Conference.
