F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the PVL Open Conference 2022. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — F2 Logistics and Balipure opted to skip the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference, which opens on July 2, the league announced Monday.
But two Asian teams, Kobe Shinwa Women’s University of Japan and Taipei King Whales will intensify the action in the semifinals.
The league, however, did not disclose the PVL clubs’ reasons for pulling out.
It’s not the first time F2 Logistics begged off from joining as it also skipped the inaugural pro season in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte last year due to several injuries.
Despite missing two local teams, Kobe Shinwa Women’s University, which previously played in the Philippine Superliga Invitationals in 2017, is returning to the country.
Taipei King Whales, a top team in the Taiwan Volleyball League, will also see action starting on August 29.
“It is our continuing commitment to raise the level of local volleyball and the presence of the Japan and Taiwan squads will surely help toughen up the competition and improve the quality of play,” said Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.
Reigning Open Conference champion Creamline, which swept the first tournament, will lead the seven-team field in a single round-robin, as the top four teams will advance to the next round to join the squads from Japan and Taiwan.
Open Conference runner-up Petro Gazz, last year’s champion Chery Tiggo, Cignal, Choco Mucho, Army Black Mamba, and PLDT are also returning to action coming off a three-month break.
The top four local teams and two foreign squads will clash in another single-round format.
All squads will be ranked using the FIVB Ranking System with the top four moving to the next phase.
The league, meanwhile, will take a break in the middle of the semis from July 11 to Aug. 20 to give way to the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team training in preparation for the AVC (Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup) 2022 on Aug. 21-28.
The local teams will first play among each other in the semis before the break with matches to resume on Aug. 29 with the foreign teams testing the local squads’ mettle.