Star rookies. Expansion teams. Strengthened squads.
Expect fireworks on June 27 as star rookie-laden Chery Tiggo Crossovers take on defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL Invitational Conference triple-header opening day.
The Crossovers made a splash during the break as they signed five rookies—UST Golden Tigresses' Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez, as well as the NU Lady Bulldogs' Jen Nierva, Joyme Cagande, and Princess Robles.
Meanwhile, the Cool Smashers further bolstered their veteran ranks with beach volleyball queen Bernadeth Pons, who is returning to indoor volleyball after four years.
It remains to be seen whether this edition of the Crossovers can take on the reinforced Cool Smashers—when the Santiago sisters beat Creamline for the 2021 PVL Open Conference title in Ilocos Norte.
The rematch, which will kick off the preliminaries of Group A, will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.
Opening the PVL Invitational Conference at 1:30 p.m. will be the Group B match between expansion squad Farm Fresh Foxies and PVL Reinforced Conference bronze medalists F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
The Foxies will be carrying a core of College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers, along with Ateneo Blue Eagles' Joan Narit and Pia Ildefonso. They will be mentored by former Adamson Lady Falcons' coach Jerry Yee.
Meanwhile, the Cargo Movers further strengthened their Animo bloodline as they signed up UAAP Season 85 Best Setter Mars Alba and Best Outside Spiker Jolina dela Cruz of the De La Salle Lady Spikers, along with Best Opposite Spiker Jov Fernandez of the FEU Tamaraws.
The second match, also part of Group B, will take place at 4 p.m. and will showcase the Cignal HD Spikers going up against Reinforced Conference runner-up Petro Gazz Angels.
The HD Spikers feature the return of Jovelyn Gonzaga as part of the GonzAquis duo with team captain Rachel Anne Daquis.
Meanwhile, the Petro Gazz Angels picked up Julia Ipac and KC Galdones with MJ Phillips eventually heading to Korean V-League.
The preliminaries, with three triple-headers and four quadruple-headers, will end on July 18. The top two squads per group will move on to the semifinals, where they will be competing in another round-robin with two foreign guest squads.
(Editor's Note: This article has been updated as of 4:03 p.m. to reflect changes in schedule that deviated from PVL's first release.)