Since 2013, Philippine volleyball fans had been torn.
With two club-based leagues in the Shakey’s V-League — later on Premier Volleyball League — and the Philippine Super Liga, there was no undisputed top team in the country.
Though there had been plans to have a crossover match-up between the champions of both leagues, none ended up coming into fruition with dream matches only ending up as fantasies.
2021 though changed all that as all the teams from the PSL ended up moving to the PVL.
The Exodus
Turning pro and moving to Cignal/TV5 proved to be the right moves for the PVL.
The first to make the leap from the PSL to the PVL were MVP Group teams PLDT Home Fibr and Cignal on February 4.
Then on March 9, Chery Tiggo and Sta. Lucia packed their bags and moved to a new home.
After much clamor from the fans, F2 Logistics finally jumped ship on March 11.
The stage was set for the biggest volleyball tournament the country has ever seen as the likes of Creamline, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, Army, and Perlas loaded up in preparation for it.
Open Season
Just weeks before the PVL Open Conference opened last July 17 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, F2 Logistics pulled out of the tournament, citing injuries incurred during their Batangas bubble training camp.
Still, there was no shortage of stars as the likes of the Santiago sisters, Alyssa Valdez, Myla Pablo, Jia Morado, Kat Tolentino, Kath Arado, Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag, Grethcel Soltones, and many more were under one roof.
Intense was the 27 days of competition that was capped off by an epic clash between the Santiago sisters-led Chery Tiggo and the Valdez-Morado-powered Creamline.
And when it came down to the winner-take-all game three, it was the Crossovers who were able to outlast the Cool Smashers in five sets to become the undisputed queens of Philippine volleyball.
F2 Logistics Sends Statement
While F2 Logistics did not participate in the PVL, it showed that they will still be a force come the 2022 PVL season.
And the Cargo Movers used the first-ever Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League for Women to send out that statement.
In a six-team field that had four pro teams and two amateur squads, Ramil De Jesus’ wards worked like a well-oiled machine, never dropping a set en route to a tournament sweep.
And come the 2022 PVL season, it will be a war as the league is preparing for a three conference format with the second conference being a treat for all volleyball fans.
