Super Liga volleybelles to wear skirt in All-Filipino conference

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Superliga (PSL) will be making a fashion statement when it opens its All-Filipino Conference on March 21.
PSL president Ramon "Tats" Suzara said they have already approved the inclusion of skirt in the teams' official uniform, a move that will further boost the marketability of the premier inter-club volleyball league in the country.

Suzara added that they drew inspiration from Latin American and European volleyball circuits as well as international tennis matches where the femininity and competitiveness of the participants are in full display.

The skirt will be part of the alternate playing kit while the league will still maintain the shorts in the teams' traditional light and dark kits during regular games.

"All teams already agreed on it," said Suzara, also the chairman of marketing and development committee of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

"When I saw the Brazilians wearing it during the World Club Women's Championship last year, I realized that it will be applicable here because it's so feminine. The team owners were laughing when I first broached them the idea, but eventually, they realized that it will be a great innovation for the league."

So far, four teams are set to return; Petron, Foton, Philips Gold (former Mane 'N Tail) and Cignal, while two to four expansion teams are still discussing with PSL organizer, Sports Core.

TV 5 will broadcast the games on free television while Solar Sports will carry it on cable channel.

The league kicks off its third season with a two-day pre-draft camp on March 6 and 7 followed by the Annual PSL Draft on March 11where Amanda Villanueva of Adamson, Angeli Araneta of University of the Philippines, Pam Lastimosa of University of Santo Tomas and Denden Lazaro of Ateneo de Manila are tipped to become the top overall pick.