FILE– Chery Tiggo Crossovers vs Creamline Cool Smashers. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Creamline tests the mettle of the new-look Chery Tiggo to kick off its title retention bid in the triple header opener of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference on June 27 at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The league on Wednesday unveiled the schedule of the midseason tournament, which will take a break from July 2 to 10 to give way to the country’s hosting of the Volleyball Nations League men’s leg from July 4 to 9.
LOOK: #PVL2023 Invitational Conference schedule
The league will take a 10-day break from July 2-10 to give way to the country’s hosting of the VNL.
Starting July 11, each game day features a quadruple header.
Full schedule: https://t.co/kltu8HTuES pic.twitter.com/eMJW2zoM4J
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) June 14, 2023
Creamline, which acquired Bernadeth Pons during the break, will open its title defense against a Chery Tiggo squad that signed five collegiate stars bannered by University of Santo Tomas star spiker Eya Laure and middle blocker Imee Hernandez and National University key cogs Jennifer Nierva, Joyme Cagande, and Cess Robles.
Both teams have solidified their respective rosters with Pons teaming up with three-time PVL MVPs Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez as well as Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Ced Domingo, and setter Jia De Guzman. At the same time, Eya and Co. are expected to provide strong support for the Crossovers Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Pauline Gaston, and Cza Carandang.
The Cool Smashers and Crossovers, who will cap the explosive opening day at 6:30 p.m., are slated in Pool A with Akari, PLDT, and new team Gerflor.
NEW TEAMS DEBUT
Rachel Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga. –Cignal
Meanwhile, expansion team Farm Fresh makes its PVL debut on opening day, facing F2 Logistics at 1:30 p.m.
Cignal, which will feature the reunion of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis, is also seeing action in the triple header opener against Petro Gazz at 4 p.m.
Farm Fresh is bannered by College of Saint Benilde stars and coach Jerry Yee as well as Ateneo products Pia Ildefonso and Joan Narit.
The Cargo Movers, who earned its best finish with a bronze medal in coach Regine Diego’s first tournament in the All-Filipino Conference, added La Salle stars Mars Alba and Jolina Dela Cruz as well as UAAP Best Opposite Spiker Jov Fernandez to team up with Myla Pablo, Aby Marano, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, Ivy Lacsina, Kianna Dy, and Dawn Macandili.
Pool B is composed of F2 Logistics, Farm Fresh, Foton, Cignal, Petro Gazz, and Choco Mucho with the top two teams in each group advancing to the round-robin semifinals, where two foreign squads will join.
On June 29, Sisi Rondina is expected to make her indoor volleyball return as her new team Choco Mucho debuts against Farm Fresh in Pool B at 4 p.m. at the same venue in San Juan
New team Gerflor also makes its pro debut against defending champion Creamline at 1:30 p.m., while Foton, composed of former players from its sister team Chery Tiggo, will be kicking off its return to the volleyball scene after four years against Petro Gazz at 6:30 p.m.
On July 1, Faith Nisperos is set to play her first PVL game with Akari when they face PLDT at 1:30 p.m. at FilOil EcoOil Centre, followed by Foton versus Choco Mucho at 4 p.m. and F2 Logistics versus Cignal at 6:30 p.m. before the league takes a 10-day break.
POOL PHASE FORMAT
After the break, the last four pool phase playdates will feature quadruple headers at Philsports Arena from July 11 to 18.
The round-robin semifinals, featuring two foreign clubs, will run from July 20 to 28 at the same venue in Pasig City. The squads from the same pool will carry over their head-to-head record into the second round.
The eliminated squads of the group stage will be relegated to the classification round on July 20 and 22, while the sixth-placed team in Pool B will automatically be ranked 13th.
The best two clubs of the semis will advance to the winner-take-all final on July 30 at Philsports Arena, while the third and fourth-ranked teams will compete in a bronze medal match.