In a bid to maintain competitive balance, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is preparing to introduce new rules on player transactions — including a firm stand against trades between sister teams.
PVL Chairman of the Control Committee Sherwin Malonzo revealed during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum that the league is finalizing its trade policy for the upcoming season.
Among the rules being ironed out is the prohibition of trades between sister squads, a move that directly affects half of the league’s 12 teams.
“Bawal rin, which is discussed na rin sa teams, bawal ang trading among sister teams,” said Malonzo.
Sister squads in the PVL include Rebisco’s Creamline and Choco Mucho; Christopher Tiu’s Akari and Nxled; Strong Group’s Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee; and MVP Group’s PLDT and Cignal — teams under the same management groups.
The league believes this restriction is necessary to avoid any perception of unfair advantage or collusion.
While the PVL is open to allowing trades, Malonzo clarified that rookie players and draft rights will remain off-limits for negotiations. He explained that a drafted player must spend at least one full season with their team before becoming eligible for a trade.
(C) PVL Images
“Ang rookie hindi puwedeng i-trade, but we already introduced the idea of trading to the teams,” Malonzo shared.
“Ang trading natin kung rookie, kailangan mag-stay muna ng one season sa teams bago sila pwede i-trade so after one season, saka lang siya pwede i-trade ng isang team,” he added.
“Yes, ‘yung draft rights hindi rin pwede i-trade.”
This clarification comes ahead of the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft on June 8 at Novotel Manila, where a fresh batch of talent led by three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen is expected to join the league.
Malonzo noted that the PVL is targeting to finalize the official trade rulebook within the year.
“Within the year, we’ll let you know kapag maayos na yung details. Magkakaroon tayo this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, the league will return to action this July with the “PVL on Tour,” a series of games that will run until September.
This event will take a brief pause to accommodate the Philippines’ hosting of the FIVB Men’s World Championship.
PVL President Ricky Palou also hinted at the possibility of foreign guest teams participating in the “On Tour,” adding international flavor to the preseason buildup.
The 2025 Reinforced Conference is set to formally kick off the new season in October.
