Games Today
10 a.m. – Army vs IEM (m)
2 p.m. – BaliPure vs Air Force (w)
4 p.m. – Pocari Sweat vs Power Smashers (w)
6 p.m. – Creamline vs Perlas (w)
Three matches kick off the Premier Volleyball League today at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.
With the organizing Sports Vision renewing its partnership with giant network ABS-CBN, the Reinforced Conference promises to go the way the previous editions of the country’s longest, biggest league were held – marked by top-notch action and unpredictability with a level playing field.
Top draw Alyssa Valdez banners a Creamline squad out to make an impact in its maiden appearance and will have a crack support crew made up of Aerieal Patnongon, Coleen Bravo, James Suyat, Janet Serafica, Ivy Remulla, Pau Soriano, Joyce Palad, Aurea Racraquin and Jonalyn Ibisa.
Thai coach Tai Bundit will also pin his hopes on reinforcements Kuttika Kaewpin and American Laura Schaudt.
Perlas is composed of former University of the Philippines and Ateneo players and backstopped by Brazilian Rupia Inck and Japanese Naoko Hashimoto.
Creamline and Perlas clash in the main game at 6 p.m.
Other matches pit BaliPure against Air Force at 2 p.m. and Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors against the Power Smashers at 4 p.m.
Matches will be aired live on S+A Channel 23 and on livestream at www.sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream.
Also on tap is the six-team men’s Reinforced Conference also set to start tomorrow at 10 a.m. with Army colliding with Instituto Estetico Manila. The other squads are Café Lupe, Cignal TV Inc., Santa Elena Construction and Philippine Army.
With a six-team field in the event backed by Mikasa and Asics, Sports Vision president Ricky Palou said the compact cast guarantees maximum exposure for each squad even as he stressed the PVL, the former Shakey’s V-League, is open to adding more clubs in the coming conferences.
“We have plans to expand the number of teams but we need to firm up the schedule,” said Palou, adding that they’re eyeing 8-10 teams in the next tournaments.