13 teams vie in PVL midseason

MANILA, Philippines — The biggest Premier Volleyball League conference will kick off on June 27 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Thirteen teams, including three new member squads and two foreign guests, will compete for the midseason crown which was won by Creamline last year.

The new additions to the field, the Foton Tornadoes, the Farm Fresh Foxies, and the Gerflor Defenders, will increase the number of local teams to 11.

“With volleyball in the country growing by leaps and bounds over the past decade, we feel that it’s about time to increase the number of member teams in the PVL,” said league president Richard “Ricky” Palou.

“This will not only bring more excitement for our fans but also provide players with more opportunities to have a career in volleyball. The new teams are also committed to staying with us in the long term,” he added.

The Foton Tornadoes will make their return to competitive volleyball after a three-year absence.

Meanwhile, the Farm Fresh Foxies will feature the core of the College of Saint Benilde team and will have Jerry Yee as the head coach for their inaugural season.

“The PVL is a big platform to introduce our product, which is the first real fresh milk in the market,” said Foxies team manager Janica Lao.

Finally, the Gerflor Defenders will feature a mix of veterans and young players and will be coached by Edgar Barroga.