I have always believed that in women’s volleyball, it would be better if there is only one league.
But as it is after the Premier Volleyball League (formerly Shakey’s V -League) was able to grow the sport, the Philippine Superliga was born and whether you like it or not, there will be a competition between the two leagues.
Yes, they have been co-existing the past years with players, coaches, even teams moving from one league to the other.
I will leave it to you as to which is the bigger or better league as people will have different ways of looking at things.
The pandemic, however, levelled the playing field and sports overall was knocked out resulting in a standstill. Both leagues saw teams taking a leave of absence, Motolite in the PVL and Petron, Ayala-Generica, and Marinera in the PSL.
Fast forward to the present and it looks like the PVL has the edge following reports of some PSL teams moving to the PVL when it reopens with a bubble league to be held at the Inspire Academy in Calamba, Laguna in April.
I have not heard any news regarding PSL’s beach volleyball in Subic, postponed once already and reset supposedly this February. Ironically, there were supposedly PVL teams that would play in the said tournament.
It has already come out that PLDT and sister team Cignal, both under the MVP Group, have joined the PVL, and with it the television coverage rights under Cignal, a hard blow I would say to the PSL.
And with only powerhouse teams F2 Logistics, Cherry Tiggo (formerly Foton) and Sta. Lucia remaining with PSL, it practically signals the end of PSL, for how can it hold a tournament with only three teams? Unless, the league can attract new teams.
On the other side, PVL has retained Creamline, Choco Mucho, Petro Gazz, Balipure, Chef’s Classics and Perlas, plus transferees PLDT and Cignal, and even a new team, Peak Form, with PVL’S Ricky Palou saying they will have 10 teams in the fold come opening day.
The PVL has also decided to turn professional, egged on for a long time by the Games and Amusement Board. The PSL has said in the past that it will remain amateur to allow collegiate players to play, with good players becoming better themselves, a reality for me looking at how UAAP and NCAA players have developed.
One team owner has been batting for a merger of the two leagues in the past, but from what I heard, the issues between the senior officials of both leagues are too deeply rooted. Trust issues, among others.
The PVL will not agree to a merger, but yes, they are open to accepting transfers from the other league as what has happened not just recently but in the past. It’s the same with the PSL because there is competition, didn’t I tell you that?
But if indeed the PSL only has three teams left and cannot attract new teams, is it possible then that one or even all these teams make a move to join the PVL, and as such, it becomes a de facto merger, not a merger of leagues though but a merger of teams with PVL as the surviving league?
One question though is will these PSL teams agree to become professional teams, too, and not just club teams.
What if say F2 Logistics opted to join the PVL? This is definitely good for the PVL, but not for the PSL.
Or will the PSL launch an aggressive marketing campaign to get new teams and maintain its separation from the PVL?
Another possible scenario is that the three remaining PSL teams disband, which will leave a lot of players without teams, except for the legitimate big stars of F2 and Cherry Tiggo as I am sure there will be takers for the likes of Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat Aby Marano, Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili, throw in Mika Reyes and Pam Lastimosa from Sta. Lucia.
No definite answers to all these questions, but definitely, things will change in the local women’s volleyball world.
And that is the bottom line under the new normal.
