Reinforcing the roster ahead of a major sporting campaign has become a virtual necessity for any team, and F2 Logistics, Cignal, and Choco Mucho have all made significant acquisitions to strengthen their respective squads for the second offering of the Premier Volleyball League this year.
The PVL Invitational Conference is set to kick off on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, featuring a record-breaking 13 teams, including three newcomers and two foreign guest squads. All teams are prepared for a month-long battle showcasing power, style, and poise.
However, Creamline, with its intact roster and extensive championship experience, remains the standard-bearer and the team to beat, not only in Group A, where they top the two-pool, single-round eliminations, but also in the other group led by F2 Logistics, HD Spikers, and Flying Titans.
After finishing in third place in the All-Filipino Conference, F2 Logistics bolstered its already formidable lineup by acquiring three members of the all-UAAP Season 85 team. Jolina Dela Cruz (first best outside spiker) and Mars Alba (best setter) from La Salle, along with Jovelyn Fernandez (best opposite spiker) from Far Eastern University, joined F2 Logistics during the break.
"I'm really excited to coach these girls again," said F2 Logistics head coach Regine Diego. "Hopefully, they will be able to connect and gel with the other girls as soon as possible."
While Choco Mucho retained its core led by the triple-tower combo of Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, and Bea de Leon, they added a talented and tenacious player in Sisi Rondina to boost their campaign in the league organized by Sports Vision and supported by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics, and SportRadar.
Standing at 5-foot-6, the Cebuano ace is known for her high-flying style and aggressive plays. After focusing on beach volleyball and the national team for the past four years, Rondina is making an indoor volleyball comeback, where she is expected to shine and make a difference for the Flying Titans.
"Based on what Sisi has been showing in our training, I can see that she will be a great help in our offense and floor defense. Her courage and aggressiveness in training are also significant assets," said Choco Mucho mentor Dante Alinsunurin.
The HD Spikers, led by Shaq Delos Santos, made two key signings, acquiring Vanie Gandler from Ateneo de Manila University and Jovelyn Gonzaga from the Army, who took a break during the previous conference.
Like Creamline, Petro Gazz retained the core players who led the Angels to the All-Filipino Conference Finals. Korean Volleyball League-bound MJ Phillips and Remy Palma are ready to anchor the team's title aspirations in this conference.
Completing the cast for Group B are newcomers Farm Fresh and Foton. F2 Logistics and Farm Fresh will open the new conference at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by Petro Gazz and Cignal at 4 p.m.
The main event of the day will feature Creamline and Chery Tiggo at 6:30 p.m.
The games will be televised on PVL.ph, One Sports, and One Sports+, with live streaming available on Smart Livestream and Cignal Play. The top two teams from each group will advance after the single-round eliminations, making every set and game crucial and ensuring an intense contest on each playing day.
