PVL set to bring international referees for the upcoming All-Filipino Conference

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will be embracing more innovative officiating moves in the upcoming All-Filipino Conference.

As a part of the major officiating overhaul implemented by the PVL management confirmed on November 5, 2024, a pool of international referees will be called up when the playoff stage is set to begin.

Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara announced the officiating change after fully supporting the country’s only professional women’s volleyball league.

According to Suzara, the PVL will bring in several international referees when the playoffs begin as part of the league’s goal of observing fairness and impartiality.

In addition, Suzara stated that these referees will be coming from the neighboring countries, specifically Hong Kong and Thailand.

“Wala nang magsasabi na may bias tong referee, parehas Filipino, so we’ll put international, neutral referees so there’s no bias. This is one of the innovations that the PNVF and AVC will support PVL,” explained Suzara.

Not only that they think that this will address parity issues in the league’s officiating, but bringing in international referees can also help in elevating the standards of the local crew.

“This way, it will raise the level of our referees now in the PVL to put international referees in all the matches,” added Suzara.

Aside from these changes, the PVL also announced that they will be putting Yul Benosa, a former UAAP champion and PHL team member, as a new referee delegate.

The upcoming PVL All-Filipino Conference will already kick off on November 9, 2024, and will have a six-month duration this time, compared to a shorter period of games last conference.

Opening the All-Filipino Conference debut ceremony is a doubleheader treat between Akari and Galeries Tower, followed by an action-packed clash between Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz.