Continuing the momentum gained from 2015, the Philippine Superliga, through its president, Ramon “Tats” Suzara have lined up an exciting schedule of international competitions that the country will host well as overseas tournaments that local athletes will join.
The PSL is the only club league in the country that strictly adheres by the standards set by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC). With this harmonious relationship, the Larong Volleball ng Pilipinas , Inc. (LVPI), the national volleyball federation, entrusted the PSL with forming teams for multiple international tourneys last year – the AVC Asian Women’s Seniors Championship in Tianjin China; the AVC Asian Men’s Club Championships in Taipei; and the AVC Women’s Club Championship in Phu Ly, Vietnam.
The league also played a major role in the country’s hosting of the AVC Women’s U-23 tournament and its participation in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
This year, the PSL is again being eyed to serve as chief organizer of the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship in September as well as the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship in October, treating local players, coaches and fans to an all-our display of world-class volleyball action.
“This is our own little way of helping the sport,” said Suzara, who serves as chairman of the powerful development and marketing committee of the AVC. “A healthy relationship with both the FIVB and the AVC will enable us to send more teams and host more high level international tournaments that would be beneficial to the improvement and development of the sport here. We are looking forward to another explosive year, not just here, but also abroad.”
Aside from hosting of the Asian Women’s Club tourney from Sept. 3 to 11, the league will also send a team to the Thailand Super League, a prestigious tournament that will pit the PSL Select Team against four of the best club teams in Thailand and an All-Star team from Vietnam from March 23-29. The league will also embark on a West Coast Road Tour in the United States from Sept. 16 to 25.
“This is going to be a very exciting year for us,” Suzara added. “Rest assured that we will keep on working hard to bring world-class volleyball entertainment to millions of local fans.”
