The Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup is set to kick off on Friday, February 26, to Sunday, February 28, in a bubble setup at the Subic Freeport.

This will be the first volleyball event that will be held since the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.

“Everything is in order. There are certain kinks to be ironed out, but the event is pushing through and the teams are ready,” PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, February 23.

A total of 8 PSL teams – Sta Lucia (two teams), F2 Logistics, United Auctioneers Inc, Toby Sports, Abanse Negrense (two teams), and guest team Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz – will be participating in this breakthrough event.

According to Juico, Abanse is already in Subic and all players and personnel are set to undergo saliva tests that will be administered by the Red Cross in Olongapo.

The rest of teams will be arriving on Wednesday.

PSL director for beach volleyball Ginio Panganiban explained that all individuals will be quarantined in single rooms until the test results are released. Once they test negative, the players will be transferred to twin sharing rooms.

In the event where athletes or personnel tests positive, they will be isolated, but the schedule of games will continue to push through.

A total of 24 matches will be played in the three-day event, where teams will first see action in pool play. Those who will advance will then play in the quarterfinals, semis, and finals.

Though the original plan was to have it broadcasted on free TV, Juico said that the games will be livestreamed on Youtube and Instagram instead.

“We were not able to bring it on free TV because of the shortness of time, but we are negotiating with GMA7 for future events,” added Juico.

PSL was forced to reschedule the beach volleyball tournament from November 2020 to February this year due to several weather disturbances in the Philippines, including Typhoons Rolly (Goni) and Siony (Atsani). – Rappler.com