There will just be 11 teams when the Premier Volleyball League holds its first conference as a professional league starting next month.
Officials of new team Unlimited Athletics Club have notified the league that it will not be able to put up a team for the 2021 Open Conference set to take place in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
“Yes, they are on leave,” said PVL tournament director Tony Boy Liao.
Still, UAC vowed to the league that they will participate in the next conference or season.
“Sad to say yes [we were withdrawing for the Open Conference] but we will be back next conference,” said UAC’s Marvin Go.
Back in early February, the team then known as Peak Form committed to join the PVL.
The team, which later became UAC Power Hitters, got Mela Tunay and Chloe Cortez as its skippers. It also tapped Edgar Barroga as head coach.
Other players were Judith Abil, Angeli Araneta, Jessma Ramos, Coleen Bravo, Dim Pacres, Angelica Legacion, and Bia General.
Completing the squad were Souzan Raslan, Sheeka Espinosa, Mialyn Manabat, and Remcel Santos.
However, Cortez ended up signing with F2 Logistics last April. On the other hand, Tunay announced her shock retirement a few weeks later.
UAC is also one of the few teams in the league that was unable to find a local government unit partner for a potential training bubble.
PVL mainstays Creamline, Petro Gazz, Perlas, Choco Mucho, Bali Pure, and guest team Philippine Army will still compete in the much-awaited first conference of the league alongside transferees Cignal, PLDT, Sta. Lucia, Chery Tiggo, and F2 Logistics.
