To make sure all bases are covered, the Premier Volleyball League is willing to push the date of its official restart to the latter part of May.
“We can hold it towards the end of May,” PVL president Ricky Palou told Tuesday’s online version of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Palou said 12 teams are seeing action in the PVL’s inaugural tournament as a professional league, set to kick off on May 8 at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
But because of the extra-long layoff and other restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, teams have called on the PVL to give them more time to train.
“There have not been a lot of play for over a year now and the players may be overexcited and hurt themselves,” Palou told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The extra time will also enable the league to make sure that all health and safety protocols are put in place, including the testing of the close to 325 persons involved.
Of the total number, 240 will make up the 12 teams, from players, coaches and other officials. Then the rest will be league officials, medical staff and even mediamen.
Once it gets going, the tournament that will cost millions to stage will take two months to finish, with two games played six days a week.
For the meantime, Palou urged all the 12 teams to “protect themselves and keep themselves safe.”
As part of the protocols, the PVL will conduct swab or saliva testing five days before the delegation enters the bubble and another round once they get to the bubble. From thereon, weekly tests will be made.
“It’s no joke,” said Palou.
