Reinforcing a roster in the run-up to any major sporting campaign has been a virtual must-do scheme for any team and F2 Logistics, Cignal and Choco Mucho, among others, made sure to whip up their respective squads with key acquisitions in time for the second Premier Volleyball League offering this year.
The PVL Invitational Conference gets going tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan with a record 13 teams, including three newcomers and two foreign guest squads, all primed for the month-long skirmish of power, style and poise.
But Creamline, given its intact roster and vast championship experience, remains the yardstick and the marked squad, not just in Group A which it heads in the two-pool, single-round eliminations but also in the other side led by the Cargo Movers, the HD Spikers and the Flying Titans.
Coming off a third-place finish in the All-Filipino Conference, F2 Logistics tapped three members of the all-UAAP Season 85 team to beef up its already formidable roster.
The La Salle duo of Jolina Dela Cruz (first best outside spiker) and Mars Alba (best setter), along with Far Eastern U’s Jovelyn Fernandez (best opposite spiker) were signed by 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 also retained its nucleus led by its triple-tower combo in Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag and Bea de Leon, it went for a diminutive but talented fighter in Sisi Rondina to boost its campaign in the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar.
The 5-foot-6 ace from Cebu, noted for her high-flying ways and aggressive plays, had focused on beach volleyball and the national team the last four years, but has been lured into making an indoor volleyball comeback where she is expected to shine and help make the difference for the Flying Titans.
“Sa pinapakita ngayon ni Sisi sa training namin, nakikita ko na malaki siyang tulong sa offense at floor defense namin. Malaking tulong din ang tapang at pagiging agresibo niya sa training,” said Choco Mucho mentor Dante Alinsunurin.
The HD Spikers of Shaq Delos Santos, on the other hand, made two key signings, acquiring Ateneo de Manila University’s Vanie Gandler and Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga, who took a break last conference.
Like Creamline, Petro Gazz kept the core that led the Angels to the All-Filipino Conference Finals with Korean Volleyball League-bound MJ Phillips and Remy Palma this conference ready to anchor the team’s title drive again.
Completign the Group B cast are newcomers Farm Fresh and Foton.
F2 Logistics and Farm Fresh usher in the new conference at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow with Petro Gazz and Cignal squaring off at 4 p.m.
Creamline and Chery Tiggo collide in the main dish at 6:30 p.m.
Games will be telecast on PVL.ph, One Sports, and One Sports+ with live streaming on Smart Livestream and Cignal Play.
The top two teams from each pool will advance after the single round elims, thus making each set and game important and ensuring a no-holds-barred contest on each playing day.