The Premier Volleyball League fires off today (Sunday, April 3) with an explosive triple-bill tipped to set the tone for another thrilling opening-season conference among the country’s best and brightest players at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.
With the organizing Sports Vision renewing its partnership with giant network ABS-CBN to ensure the league’s continued wide TV live and online coverage, the Reinforced Conference promises to go the way the previous editions of the country’s longest, biggest league were held – marked by top-notch action and unpredictability with a level playing field.
Top draw Alyssa Valdez banners a Creamline squad out to make an impact in its maiden appearance and the many-time conference league MVP and former UAAP star will have a crack support crew that further makes the Cool Smashers one of the marked teams in the 14th season of the league where it all started.
They include Aerieal Patnongon, Coleen Bravo, James Suyat, Janet Serafica, Ivy Remulla, Pau Soriano, Joyce Palad, Aurea Racraquin and Jonalyn Ibisa.
Thai coach Tai Bundit will also pin his hopes on reinforcements Kuttika Kaewpin and American Laura Schaudt as they slug it out with the Perlas side anchored by former UP and Ateneo stalwarts and backstopped by Brazilian Rupia Inck and Japanese Naoko Hashimoto in the 6 p.m. main game.
The Perlas Lady Spikers will be relying on a combination of experience and youth with a slew of battle-scarred players, led by Amy Ahomiro, Sue Roces, Dzi Gervacio, Ella de Jesus, Sasa Devanadera and Jem Ferrer plus the addition of seasoned reinforcements Inck and Hashimoto putting them in good stead against the best teams in the fold.
They also put in a dose of youth and energy as they acquired Kat Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon, who recently completed their five-year tour of duty with the Lady Maroons, to beef up the Lady Spikers’ roster in the league backed by Mikasa and Asics.
The other members of the team are Mae Tajima and Amanda Villanueva.
“The core of the squad has so much experience and we welcome the addition of Kat and Nicole, they will give this team energy,” said coach Jerry Yee.
Hashimoto, who plays for powerhouse Bangkok Glass and a member of the Japan team that snared the silver in the 2013 Asian Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, is also raring to showcase her wares against her counterparts.
The BaliPure-Air Force duel at 2 p.m. and the 4 p.m. clash between the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors and the Power Smashers are also expected to go down-to-the-wire with the Purest Water Defenders headed by many-time NCAA MVP Grethcel Soltones and import Jennifer Keddy of the US and Thai returnee Jaroensri Bualee and the Jet Spikers boasting of a solid crew backstopped by Thai veteran Patcharee Sangmuan and local mainstays Joy Cases, Wendy Semana and Iari Yongco.
Pocari may have lost former skipper and leader Michelle Gumabao but the Lady Warriors remain formidable with Myla Pablo, Melissa Gohing and Desiree Dadang still in the fold and imports Michelle Strizak and Edina Selimovic eager to prove their worth.
The Power Smashers will also lean on their experience and a pair of reinforcements in Hyapha Amporn and Kannika Thipachot with Jovielyn Prado, Katherine Villegas, Alina Bicar and Dimdim Pacres to provide additional firepower and spunk.
Matches will be aired live on S+A Channel 23 and on livestream at www.sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream.
Also on tap is the six-team men’s Reinforced Conference also set to start tomorrow at 10 a.m. with Army colliding with Instituto Estetico Manila. The other squads are Café Lupe, Cignal TV Inc., Santa Elena Construction and Philippine Army.
The women’s matches will be aired live on S+A Channel 23.
With a six-team field, Sports Vision president Ricky Palou said the compact cast guarantees maximum exposure for each squad even as he stressed the PVL, the former Shakey’s V-League, is open to adding more clubs in the coming conferences.
“We have plans to expand the number of teams but we need to firm up the schedule,” said Palou, adding that they’re eyeing 8-10 teams in the next tournaments.
Games today
10 a.m. – Army vs IEM (men’s)
2 p.m. – BaliPure vs Air Force (women’s)
4 p.m. – Pocari Sweat vs Power
Smashers (women’s)
6 p.m. – Creamline vs Perlas (women’s)