Tag: Reinforced

Farm Fresh taps Yeny Murrilo for Reinforced Conference

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Yeny Murrilo is Farm Fresh Foxies’ import for the PVL Reinforced Conference.

MANILA, Philippines — Farm Fresh parades Colombian outside spiker Yeny Murrilo in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference starting on July 16 at Philsports Arena.

The Foxies on Friday evening announced their reinforcement for their first-ever import-laden tournament since joining the league last year.

Murillo, who turned 25 on Friday, is already in Manila, training with Farm Fresh.

The 6-foot spiker, who played for Arizona Western College and Grand Canyon University, is bringing her experience from seeing action in overseas club leagues in Greece, France, Cyprus, and Czechia.

READ: PVL Draft: Farm Fresh still mulling its picks

Murillo will bolster the young Foxies Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, Caitlin Viray, Alyssa Bertolano, Louie Romero, and Rizza Cruz.

The Foxies will pick fourth overall in the Rookie Draft on Monday at Novotel.

Farm Fresh opens its campaign against Chery Tiggo on July 16.

The Foxies are slated in Pool A, which includes All-Filipino champion Creamline, PLDT, Galeries Tower, and Nxled.



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Novel format spices up Reinforced PVL action

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Erica Staunton is Creamline Cool Smashers’ import for the PVL Reinforced Conference. –CREAMLINE PHOTO

A two-stage elimination round will be something new when the Reinforced Conference of the Premier Volleyball League gets off the ground on July 16, although the battle for the championship will be just for a single game which assures that no team will run under full speed the entire time.

The 12-team field will be divided into two groups in the first phase of classification, with the top teams from Pools A and B going on to clash with the bottom three teams from the opposite groups to form Pools C and D.

Following the preliminaries, teams will be ranked using the FIVB Classification System. The top eight squads will move on to the knockout quarterfinals. Winners will advance to the semifinals, which will also be decided in a do-or-die match. The top two teams from the semis will compete in a winner-take-all gold medal match, while the losers will battle for bronze.

Creamline headlines Pool A, which will also have Chery Tiggo, Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower, Nxled and PLDT, while defending champion Petro Gazz will be in the other pool together with Akari, Capital1, Cignal, Choco Mucho and Zus Coffee.

Opening day promises intense matchups, starting with the Highrisers, bannered by Brazilian reinforcement Monique Helena, facing the Nxled squad, which has yet to reveal its import, at 2 p.m. at PhilSports Arena.

Nxled is hoping to make the best out of picking fifth overall in the coming Draft after losing several standouts, including Ivy Lacsina and Dindin Santiago-Manabat in a swap with sister team Akari recently.

Lacsina was part of the package that also sent Cams Victoria, libero skipper Dani Ravena and main setter Kamille Cal to Akari. Manabat opted out of being included in that deal and terminated her contract with the Chargers to find her way into Choco Mucho.

At 4 p.m., American spiker Katherine Bell and the Crossovers will challenge Asaka Tamaru and the Foxies. The main event at 6 p.m. will see the Cool Smashers, led by Erica Staunton from the USA, against returning Russian hitter Lena Samoilenko and the PLDT High Speed Hitters. —Angel B. Dukha III



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PVL to use different format in return of Reinforced Conference

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FILE–A shot of the crowd during the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals between Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The return of the PVL Reinforced Conference features a Pool Play format, dividing 12 teams into two groups as pro volleyball action unfurls on July 16 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

With the import-laden tournament returning to action for the first time in two years, the PVL will be using a different format, using the serpentine method to separate the teams into two groups — based on their standings in the previous All-Filipino Conference with champion Creamline headlining Pool A, while runner-up Choco Mucho leading Pool B.

Creamline, which will be bolstered by American Erica Staunton, eyes to end a six-year Reinforced Conference title drought with the Khat Bell-led Chery Tiggo, PLDT with returning Russian import Elena Samoilenko, Galeries Tower with Brazilian Monique Helena, and Farm Fresh and Nxled, who have yet to unveil their respective imports.

READ: Cha Cruz-Behag returns to PVL as Petro Gazz assistant coach

Choco Mucho, which will miss Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag due to their Alas Pilipinas duties, parades Greek spiker Zoi Faki and newcomer Dindin Santiago-Manabat in Pool B with three-peat-seeking Petro Gazz, MJ Perez-led Cignal, Akari with Oly Okaro, Capital1 reinforced by Russian Marina Tushova, and ZUS Coffee bringing Japanese spiker Asaka Tamaru.

PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo bared that ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh were supposed to end up in the same group due to their records but they transferred the Thunderbelles to Pool B to avoid having sister teams in one group.

The Highrisers, who will also pick No. 3 in the inaugural PVL Draft on Monday at Novotel, will tip things off on July 16, facing the new-look Chameleons at 2 p.m.

Bell marks her return in Manila with the Crossovers’ 4 p.m. match against the Foxies, while Creamline and PLDT cap the tripleheader at 6 p.m.

READ: Thea Gagate eager to help ZUS Coffee rise after winless campaign

The group phase will feature two stages, starting with a single round-robin format. In the second round, the top three teams from Pool A will face the bottom three from Pool B in Pool C, while the top three squads from Pool B will compete against the lower-ranked teams of Pool A in Pool D.

Following the preliminaries, teams will be ranked using the FIVB Classification System. The top eight squads will move on to the knockout quarterfinals. The winners advance to the knockout semifinals, qualifying for the Invitational Conference in September with two foreign clubs.

The finalists will clash in a winner-take-all gold medal game. The Reinforced Conference will feature three games on all preliminary game days, paving the way for the Invitational Conference set for September.



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Creamline’s Jema Galanza likely out of Reinforced tilt

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Creamline’s Jema Galanza is set to play for Alas Pilipinas and will likely miss the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines —Creamline is preparing for the possibility that its go-to-scorer Jema Galanza won’t be joining the Cool Smashers in the upcoming 2024 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.

Galanza is one of the PVL players who are likely to miss the midseason conference due to their commitment to Alas Pilipinas, which will compete in the FIVB Challenger Cup next week against Vietnam and in the SEA V.League in August.

READ: Returning Jema Galanza ready for challenge with Alas Pilipinas

Although the PVL has aligned its calendar to the national team period to lend players to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, most of the club teams are still hoping to have their players even late in the conference. 

“We don’t have the final decision yet, but based on what we know, she won’t be able to play with us. However, it’s not final yet so we are also waiting for the decision,” said Meneses on Wednesday in the PVL Rookie Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park in Mandaluyong.

Tots Carlos was part of the training pool but Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito has already ruled out the star opposite spiker at least for the Challenger Cup.

READ: Tots Carlos out for Alas Pilipinas, says coach Jorge de Brito

Meneses will be banking on American outside spiker Erica Staunton and their mainstays Alyssa Valdez and Bernadeth Pons in case they miss the reigning All-Filipino Finals MVP Galanza.

Draft strategy

Creamline Coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL Draft Combine.

Creamline Coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“As of now, it’s okay because only time will tell. Our import is very young so they can easily adapt to the system,” said the Creamline coach.

Aside from their import, Meneses has a chance to add more players as they hold the 12th pick in the first-ever Rookie Draft on July 8. 

He has specific targets but it will depend on the picks of the first 11 teams.

“In every position, we have a strategy, but it depends on who the top 11 players are because we’re number 12. It’s very difficult to specify just one position,” he said.

“The Draft Combine is a big help because everyone has a chance to showcase their skills, even those who aren’t well-known have opportunities.”



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Creamline is hoping to end a six-year title drought in the Reinforced Conference as it settled for bronze in the import-laden tournament two years ago.

MJ Perez returns to power Cignal in Reinforced Conference

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FILE–MJ Perez. Photo By Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — MJ Perez is returning to Manila five years after her last stint in the country and will take her act to Cignal in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference starting on July 16.

The HD Spikers on Wednesday welcomed the former Venezuela national team player, who is no longer a stranger to the Philippine volleyball scene.

The 36-year-old Perez is a former Philippine Superliga Grand Prix MVP in 2017, leading the defunct F2 Logistics to a championship. She also served as import for the Cargo Movers in 2018 and 2019 before the club moved to PVL in 2021 and debuted in the following year but the squad was disbanded last December.

Perez last saw action in Egypt with the Alexandria Sporting Club in the previous season. She played in Vietnam with the Than Quang Ninh Volleyball Club two years ago and also excelled in Indonesia and emerged as a decorated player in Venezuela.

Cignal is seeking to return to the PVL Reinforced Conference finals after their breakthrough two years ago with import Tai Bierria but fell to Petro Gazz in the series.

READ: Vanie Gandler, Dawn Catindig bring Cignal connection to PH team

Perez’s arrival is a timely boost for the HD Spikers, who could miss Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Vanie Gandler due to their commitments to Alas Pilipinas.

Cignal missed the semifinals of the previous All-Filipino Conference as Perez teams up with former PSL rivals Ces Molina and coach Shaq Delos Santos, who is also banking on Gel Cayuna, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Ria Meneses, and Rose Doria.

Perez was the sixth PVL import unveiled hours after Choco Mucho welcomed Greek Spiker Zoi Faki. Capital1 brought Russian outside spiker Marina Tushova, Creamline will be baking on American spiker Erica Staunton, Chery Tiggo brought back Khat Bell in the Philippines, and PLDT will be running it back with its previous Russian reinforcement Elena Samoilenko.



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Creamline taps Erica Staunton as import for Reinforced tilt

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Erica Staunton is Creamline Cool Smashers’ import for the PVL Reinforced Conference. –CREAMLINE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline is bringing American wing spiker Erica Staunton as its guest foreign player in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in July.

The Cool Smashers on Thursday welcomed the former US NCAA player to bolster their roster in the import-laden tournament.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Erica Staunton, a dynamic 23-year-old open and opposite spiker from the USA, is joining the Creamline Cool Smashers family,” the team wrote. “Her talent, passion, and energy are sure to bring even more excitement to our team.”

READ: Creamline somehow still found way to remain on top of PVL

Staunton played for Northeastern University in Division 1 before she transferred to Georgia University.

The 6-foot-1 versatile spiker, who also has pro experience in Finland with the Oriveden Ponnistus, joins the winningest PVL club, which recently completed a historic ’four-peat’ in the All-Filipino Conference.

Staunton is teaming up with Alyssa Valdez, Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, Pangs Panaga, Bea De Leon, Kyle Negrito, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla.

The availability of Alas Pilipinas players Jia De Guzman, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza is still up in the air in the midseason conference as the nationals will play in several tournaments in the FIVB Challenger Cup and SEA V.League.

The Reinforced Conference title has been elusive for Creamline, which last won a championship with an import in 2018. The Cool Smashers lost to the Petro Gazz Angels five years ago and settled for bronze in 2022.

Creamline was the third PVL team to unveil its reinforcement as Chery Tiggo recently welcomed Khat Bell, while PLDT brought back Elena Samoilenko.

The top four teams in the Reinforced Conference will qualify for the Invitational Conference in September with two foreign guest clubs.



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