MANILA – Cignal HD Spikers and PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters will transfer to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) this season after years of playing at the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
PVL president Ricky Palou said the two teams have already signified their intention to transfer to the country’s first professional women’s volleyball league. Cignal and PLDT will formalize their move next week.
“We’ve got PLDT. They confirmed that they are joining the PVL and likewise the Cignal HD team,” Palou said in an interview with ONE Sports’ The Game on Thursday evening.
The HD Spikers have been in the PSL since 2013. The volleyball club has one PSL championship during the 2017 Invitational tournament, three second-place finishes and three bronze medals.
The Power Hitters, on the other hand, was previously with PVL before returning to the PSL in the 2018 season, carrying the name SMART Giga. The highest finish the PLDT franchise had in the PSL is a fourth-place finish during the 2018 Invitational Conference.
The HD Spikers and Power Hitters will join Creamline Cool Smashers, Choco Mucho Flying Titans, Petro Gazz Angels, Bali Pure, Chef’s Classic, Perlas Lady Spikers, and a newly-formed squad in PVL.
Apart from the mentioned teams above, Palou also invited a couple of teams from the armed forces as guest teams.
Prior to securing the transfer commitment of the Manny Pangilinan-owned HD Spikers and Power Hitters, PVL have signed a three-year broadcasting deal with Cignal TV with matches to be aired at ONE Sports and ONE Sports +.
The 2021 PVL Open Conference is tentatively set to be staged in April under a bubble format at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna./PN
