Creamline, Petro Gazz to compete for PH in AVC Champions League

Alyssa Valdez rises for a hit to lead the Creamline Cool Smashers to their first win in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Creamline and Petro Gazz will represent the country in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Champions League from April 20 to 27 at Philsports Arena.

PVL president and Philippine National Volleyball Federation vice president Ricky Palou on Saturday announced that they decided to field the top two teams of the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference preliminary round since the draw will take place on March 12 in Bangkok.

READ: PH to host AVC Women’s Champions League with PNVF, PVL as organizers

“The AVC called us and said they need the teams right away. The drawing lots is on March 12 so we cannot wait until the end of the tournament. We talked to the teams and we said after the (preliminary) round, the top two will represent the Philippines and that’s Creamline and Petro Gazz,” Palou told reporters.

The PVL was only supposed to field one team — the All-Filipino champion — as announced by PNVF president Tats Suzara last November.

But as the host nation of the newest continental club tournament, the PVL will instead field two squads for the 12-team field that includes Nakhon Ratchasima of Thailand, NEC Red Rockets of Japan as well as clubs from Vietnam and South Korea.

The Champions League was supposed to take place in South Korea but was moved to Vietnam before the Philippines was named as the host.

READ: PVL: Struck by first loss, Creamline rises to seal No. 1 seed

Both Creamline and Petro Gazz can field three imports but the Angels can only hire one since MJ Phillips and Brooke Van Sickle are considered as foreign players due to their federations both registered in the US.

“We don’t know what their plans are because they are entitled to three imports. But we don’t know if they will get three imports, although for Petro Gazz, (MJ) Phillips and Brooke (Van Sickle) are considered as imports because they belong to the US federation, so they can still get one more. I don’t know what the plans of Creamline are as of this time,” he said.

The teams will be based at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City.

Creamline and Petro Gazz already qualified for the PVL quarterfinals as the No.1 and 2 seeds, waiting for their opponents from the play-in round.

The 12 best teams in Asia will be participating in the tournament for a spot in the 2025 FIVB Club World Championship and a $50,000 prize.

Meanwhile, the men’s side, composed of Alas Pilipinas stars, will see action in Japan the following month.