TO minimize close contact among the competing teams, the Premier Volleyball League will do away with the switching of court sides and handshakes for the Open Conference set to start this Saturday at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Baccara, Ilocos Norte.
The FIVB Volleyball Nations League was the first to implement the changes last May.
“Okay lang sa kanila (teams) kasi it’s for their own good. It’s also because the teams have their own equipment, and water, so ‘pag lumipat kung may infected don madadamay lahat,” said PVL president Ricky Palou.
“They understand. In fact they welcome it at this point for safety precautionary measures.
Actually sa FIVB ganun ang ginawa, walang change court,” he added.
Team handshakes will also no longer be part of the game routine to eliminate possible close contact among players.
League commissioner Tony Boy Liao also said that the 10 teams seeing action in the country’s first professional volleyball league will have to observe the strict bubble protocols set by the organizing committee, the Games and Amusements Board, and the local government of Ilocos Norte.
During pre-game warm-ups, teams can only use their side of the court for 30 minutes before the toss coin and team introductions. Players are also required to wear face masks.
Once the game begins, the teams’ starting six, the liberos, and head coaches can opt to keep or remove their masks. However, the rest of the coaching staff and substitutes are obliged to wear their respective masks.
PLDT and Chery Tiggo kicks off hostilities at 1 p.m. followed by the Perlas-Cignal faceoff at 4 p.m. Creamline and Sta. Lucia cap the triple-bill at 7 p.m.
