PVL aligns calendar with FIVB schedule

MANILA, Philippines — The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) has aligned its calendar with the FIVB schedule, merging the Invitational and Reinforced Conferences this 2024 season to consistently integrate domestic and international volleyball events.

The Reinforced Conference didn’t stage last year because the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) recommended the PVL not to tap imports as the tournament was not scheduled within what the FIVB calls the National Team period from May 16 to October 15, wherein the national team competitions take precedence.

This 2024 season, Sports Vision will have two conferences starting with the All-Filipino, which opens on February 20, followed by the Reinforced Invitational, featuring foreign guest players while excluding national team members. The second tournament will also feature two foreign teams in the semifinals.

“This year’s calendar is designed to align with the FIVB schedule, ensuring a seamless integration of international and domestic volleyball events. We are committed to delivering a world-class experience for our fans and players alike,” said PVL president Ricky Palou.

The league will stage the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, which is scheduled from October 2024 to May 2025, offering an extended season for fans to witness the best of Philippine volleyball.

Creamline defends its All-Filipino crown against last season’s challengers Choco Mucho and two-time Reinforced Conference winner Petro Gazz. Cignal, PLDT, and Chery Tiggo seek to get over the semifinal hump, while Akari, Nxled, Farm Fresh, and Galeries Tower eye improvement from their previous stints with newcomers Capital1 and Strong Group Athletics joining the fray.

The teams attended the first-ever PVL Media Day at TV5 headquarters in Mandaluyong, which ends on Monday, and will grace the league press conference on Wednesday at Discovery Suites.