The PVL will make its first appearance in Cebu, giving the opportunity to some of its Cebuana players to finally play in front of their home crowd.
PVL All-Filipino action will head to the Queen City of the South on Saturday, December 7 at the Minglanilla Sports Complex in Cebu.
Cebuanos will be in for a treat with exciting matchups set between the Cignal HD Spikers and the Nxled Chameleons as well as the Capital1 Solar Spikers and the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
Adding a local flair to the games are Cebuanas Dimdim Pacres of Galeries Towers, Rica Rivera of Capital1, and Krich Macaslang of Nxled, who are eager to perform in front of their home crowd.
“Cebu has produced some of the best volleyball talents in the country,” PVL President Ricky Palou shared. “Bringing the PVL here is not just about entertaining fans but also about inspiring the next generation of volleyball players in the region."
For Macaslang and Rivera, this is a chance for their family and friends to finally watch their games live.
“Sobrang excited like it's been a while na I really wanted to play in front of my kababayans kasi antagal na din. May mga friends din ako and family na nagrerequest to bring PVL nga in Cebu. So ayun, eto na 'yung chance na makita ko sila and makita din nila ako na maglalaro kasama 'yung team ko,” Macaslang told One Sports.
“Sobrang swerte ko kasi parang nung first time nag-announce nung schedule, wala pang nakalagay na Cebu so parang pinag-uusapan na, 'Uy baka Cebu. Uy sana Cebu.' Tapos thankful ako kasi 'yung family ko makakanood for the first time in almost five years and my friends live makakanood,” Rivera added.
The HD Spikers will look to keep their unbeaten streak alive as they face the Macaslang and the Chameleons in the opener at 4:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, Rivera and the rest of the Solar Spikers gun for back-to-back wins against the still-winless Highrisers at 6:30 p.m.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco & Aivan Episcope/One Sports)