PVL Open Conference fires off July 17

MANILA, Philippines — All is set for the return of the Premier Volleyball League via a bubble tourney that fires off July 17 at the Centennial Arena in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Eleven teams slug it out in the Open Conference with a single round robin format in the eliminations. The top four advance to the playoff round.

The Cignal HD Spikers are upbeat even with several manpower changes under new coach Shaq delos Santos.

Other teams set to see action in the league’s first pro season are PLDT, Creamline, Perlas Spikers, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, Bali Pure, Army, F2 Logistics, Sta. Lucia and Chery Tiggo.

Cignal acquired former University of the Philippines setter Ayel Estranero and ex-St. Benilde utility spiker Klarissa Abriam to fill in the vacuum left by Alohi Robins-Hardy and Jovelyn Gonzaga, respectively.

“Makakasama naming bago si Ayel (Estranero) na papalit kay Alohi at Klarissa Abriam na papalit kay Jovs (Gonzaga),” said Cignal team captain Rachel Anne Daquis on the Power and Play program of Noli Eala.

In the same program, Cignal libero Jheck Dionela said they have returned to basics by focusing more on their floor defense.

“We’re focusing on defense. If hindi namin makuha sa taas, sa baba namin kukunin. Back to basic kami,” said Dionela.

Daquis stressed the importance of each game in the short tourney.

“One miss you die at talagang lalaban po kami,” said Daquis.