Creamline and Petro Gazz will represent the Philippines in the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League, PVL president and PNVF vice president Ricky Palou confirmed on Saturday night.
As the host country for the club championship, the Philippines has been granted the opportunity to field two teams in the tournament, which will feature 12 clubs from across the region.
Originally, the winner of the All-Filipino Conference was set to represent the country in the international competition, which was initially scheduled to take place in South Korea before being moved to Vietnam. However, due to time constraints, the federation decided to instead send the top two teams from the preliminary round.
The Cool Smashers and the Angels both finished with identical 10-1 records, with Creamline securing the top spot in the standings.
“The AVC called us and said they need the teams right away. Kasi magda-drawing of lots on March 12, so we cannot wait until the end of the tournament,” Palou told reporters during the qualifying round match between Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo.
“We talked to the teams and we said after the (preliminary) round, the top two will represent the Philippines, and that’s Creamline and Petro Gazz,” he added.
Both teams have already confirmed their participation in the Champions League, where each squad will be allowed to field up to three imports.
However, Petro Gazz will only have one available slot for a foreign reinforcement, as Filipino-American spikers Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips are considered imports under USA Volleyball.
“Yeah, (they accepted). We don’t know what their plans are because they are entitled to three imports,” said Palou.
“But we don’t know if they will get three imports. Although si Petro Gazz, si (MJ) Phillips and Brooke (Van Sickle), they are considered as imports because they belong to the US federation, so they can still get one more. I don’t know what the plans of Creamline are as of this time.”
The PVL and PNVF will serve as local organizers for the Champions League—previously known as the Asian Club Championship—which will run from April 20 to 27 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The official draw for the tournament is set for March 12 in Bangkok, Thailand.
