F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the PVL. (Photo by MARLO CUETI / INQUIRER.net)
The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) field will look a lot different when the new season unfolds in February after teams made moves this offseason to revamp their respective rosters.
Sister teams Creamline and Choco Mucho, who clashed head-on in the recent All-Filipino Conference Finals, made some of the significant changes after the Cool Smashers acquired the Flying Titans’ team captain Bea de Leon and Denden Lazaro-Revilla.
Creamline, however, also took a loss after letting go of well-loved middle blocker Ced Domingo, who transferred to Akari.
Choco Mucho, which also released Caitlin Viray to Farm Fresh, dealt with its key departures by adding valuable talent: Former PLDT stalwart Mean Mendrez will join the team, which also welcomed back Royse Tubino.
Libero Bia General will bolster Choco Mucho’s defense.
Domingo, who is still playing in Thailand for Nakhon Ratchasima, is expected to suit up for Akari later in the year. The Chargers will also be powered by Grethcel Soltones who left Petro Gazz after four years with the Angels.
It was the disbandment of F2 Logistics, however, that supercharged the movement frenzy in the PVL offseason.
The Flying Titans capitalized, picking up setter Mars Alba.
Chery Tiggo got a massive boost in experience to help lead its young core after Aby Maraño and Ara Galang joined the Crossovers, who also brought back middle blocker Jeanette Villareal from the remains of the now-defunct Gerflor.
PLDT fished Majoy Baron to perform middle blocker duties while Mika Reyes addresses a recurring shoulder injury.
Setter Kim Fajardo presents coach Rald Ricafort with a good problem as she helps veteran Rhea Dimaculangan in distributing the ball and Kim Kianna Dy, who is still recuperating from a knee injury, provides the High Speed Hitters additional firepower.
Relative success
Ivy Lacsina during Nxled Chameleons practice.–Photo from Nxled Facebook
After freeing up spots in its roster, Cignal found a boost in its defense in Dawn Macandili-Catindig. The bronze finishers of the last PVL conference also signed young spiker Jov Fernandez.
Petro Gazz welcomed back Myla Pablo with her former Cargo Mover middle blockers Ethan Arce and Joy Dacoron. The Angels also signed hitter Michelle Morente from PLDT.
Nxled, who found relative success among the league neophytes under Japanese coach Taka Minowa’s disciplined approach, got its lone pickup in versatile F2 Logistics standout Ivy Lacsina.
Aside from Viray, Farm Fresh also signed Ely Kasilag, Chinnie Arroyo and scorer Jolina dela Cruz from F2 Logistics.
Dela Cruz, who recently went under the knife to repair an ACL tear, will be joined by former PLDT setter Anj Legacion, former Galeries Tower libero Julia Angeles and Jaycel delos Reyes from Chery Tiggo.
Galeries will also gun for a higher finish this season with Shola Alvarez from F2 Logistics and former Chery standout France Ronquillo.
With the tweaks made by the squads to its personnel, several teams effectively put up their names as contenders for the PVL glory—and the hike to the top just got tougher.