THE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will be pushed back by at least two weeks in May after the 12 participating teams asked for more time to train their players, PVL president Ricky Palou told Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
“We can hold it towards the end of May,” said Palou as he shared the teams’ sentiments over limited training time after a unified curfew and stricter protocols were imposed in Metro Manila on Monday.
The PVL was supposed to debut as a professional league on May 8 in a bubble environment at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
“There weren’t much action for over a year now and the players may be over-excited and could hurt themselves,” Palou told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
The extra time will also enable the league to make sure that all health and safety protocols are put in place, including the testing of the close to 325 individuals involved in the bubble.
Of the total number, 240 make up the 12 teams—players, coaches and other officials—while the rest are league officials, medical staff and even media.
“Once it gets going, the tournament that will cost millions to stage will take two months to finish, with two games played six days a week,” Palou said.
Palou urged all 12 teams to “protect themselves and keep themselves safe.”
As part of the protocols, the PVL will conduct swab or saliva testing five days before the delegation enters and another round once they are inside the bubble. From thereon, weekly tests will be made.