The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is set to work closely with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) to accommodate the schedules of the national team.

PVL president Ricky Palou said that the country’s first professional volleyball league is willing to make adjustments when the national team players are called to play for the flag.

“We’re trying to work out the schedules with the PNVF and I’m sure we can all come to an agreement on how the schedules will come to the benefit of both,” said Palou on Tuesday, March 16 in the weekly Philippine Sportswriter’s Association online forum.

According to the PVL president, the league is ready to move the start date to late May instead of first week of May to accommodate the needs of the new teams.

Though the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) competition window usually falls within the months of June to July, there will be no pressure for the PVL to stage the Open conference earlier as major volleyball competitions this year remain uncertain.

Palou also proposed that the PVL give way to the national team training for at least a month before the competition.

Last March 11, Arthur “Odjie” Mamon and Dante Alinsunurin were appointed as the women’s and men’s national volleyball team coaches, respectively, for the country’s participation in the 2021 Vietnam Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Palou also said that the league is capping it off at 12 teams, with F2 Logistics being the last to make a move from former rival league Philippine Superliga (PSL).

The five-time PSL titlist now joins three-time PVL champion Creamline, Choco Mucho, Petro Gazz, Banko-Perlas, BaliPure/Chef’s Classics, Cignal, PLDT, Philippine Army, and Unlimited Athletes Club to round out the roster in the league that is set to open in a bubble.

Last February 4, the PVL struck a 3-year broadcast deal with Cignal TV after being aired on ABS-CBN Sports since 2018. – Rappler.com