In a practical effort to cushion the foreseeable aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic in the sporting realm, the Premier Volleyball League is adjusting its calendar this 2020.
PVL president Ricky Palou disclosed that the usual season-opening Reinforced Conference may be interchanged with the Open Conference.
“I’m going to propose to the team owners that we will start with the Open Conference, instead,” he said.
For one, Palou stressed the need to consider the situation of foreign players amid the coronavirus pandemic, all the while taking into account the recruitment process for club teams.
“With the current situation, baka ‘yung mga foreign players mag-hesitate pumunta rito and baka mahirapan na ang mga teams na makakuha ng imports,” he furthered.
“We’ll start with the Open Conference muna tayo and if may time pa, we can have the Reinforced Conference.”
Defending conference champion is Creamline.
Should the PVL push through, it would be the first time that the import-laden conference will serve as a secondary act to the all-Filipino meet since the league rebranded from the Shakey’s V-League back in 2017.
Besides the adjustment of the tournament schedule, the league’s head honcho believes that the timetable of the forthcoming season’s opening is also a matter for discussion.
“I don’t think we will be able to open by May 30. Naka-quarantine tayo with this coronavirus situation and ang mga teams walang training kasi nga bawal. And even after this quarantine, I think ‘di rin enough ang time to train kasi teams will need at least a month or two months para makapag-training,” he confided.
“So the opening is still up in the air.”
The officials are set to meet once the enhanced community quarantine is lifted.
“We cannot say kung kailan kami makakapag-meeting dahil nga dito sa coronavirus and lahat nga ng sports natigil din. Nakakahinayang nga rin yung UAAP. Hopefully, maging maayos na lahat by the end of April.”
