The Philippine women's national volleyball team will now have ample time to train.
The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) has aligned its calendar with FIVB, the global volleyball federation, to provide the Philippine national women's team time to prepare for international competitions.
The league will have two conferences slated for the 2024 season, which goes into full swing on February 20 with the All-Filipino Conference. This features a round robin preliminaries with 12 teams.
The top four will compete in another round robin semifinals to determine the ranking for the best-of-three finals and battle for bronze.
The second tournament of the season will be the Reinforced Invitational Conference. Each team will be allowed one import, and two foreign squads will be invited.
National team members will be excluded.
"In coordination also with the [Philippine National Volleyball Federation], during the national team season, we have to release all the national players, para mag-focus naman sila sa bansa natin," PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo shared.
"We’re inviting also foreign teams to play in that league kasi pabor din sa kanila habang nasa national team din 'yung players nila, pero pwedeng ma-expose yung club nila sa ibang bansa."
Time and practice has always been an issue in forming a national team, with the league featuring three conferences in a season.
Jia de Guzman, the Philippines' long-time setter, emphasized the need for continuity and a long-term program after their fourth place finish in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
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The adjustment was done to coincide with FIVB's national team period, which runs from May 16 to October 15.
2024 is an Olympic year, so most of the events taking place this year are major ones such as the Continental Volleyball Club Championships from April to May, the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) from May to June, the FIVB Challenger Cup in July, and the Olympics from July to August.
The Philippines though would be able to take advantage of the PVL adjustment in the next few years, as the Southeast Asian Games will be happening on December 2025 while the Asian Games will start September 2026.
The PVL has also considered the FIVB's set period for country leagues, running from October 16 to May 15.
It will be during this time that the PVL will hold its next season, featuring an extended version of the All-Filipino Conference.
"In those seven months, doon gagawin 'yung [AFC]. Pinahaba namin, pinaganda namin. Lahat ng players, lahat ng exciting, doon namin pinasok, kaya naging mahaba siya," shared Malonzo.
The 2024 PVL season will begin with the All-Filipino Conference this February 20. It will be aired on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.