THE Premier Volleyball League is pulling all the stops for a safe and successful restart of its competitions, which was scrapped last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PVL president Ricky Palou and commissioner Tony Boy Liao yesterday met with Ilocos Norte local government unit regarding the health and safety protocols in place for the Open Conference which will begin tomorrow in Bacarra town.

“Actually mixed feelings kami dito. We’re happy na finally mag-uumpisa pero at the same time we’re kinda worried. Natatakot din kami dahil we’re hoping and praying na nobody gets infected.

None of the players or even the coaching and working staff. That’s why we keep on telling everybody please be very careful,” said Palou.

The preparations for the now-pro league hit several snags, where the clubs were forced to conduct trainings in the low-risk provinces after Metro Manila was placed under the highest quarantine status in late March.

The Perlas Spikers had their Baguio training camp put to a halt late last month after seven players and a coach contracted coronavirus. Perlas was able to resume practices late last week and was the last team to arrive in Ilocos Norte.

As the PVL finally makes its first serve for the first time since November 2019, the reception of team owners was very upbeat that the league will finally open.

“They’re all happy naman. They’re relax, comfortable yun naman parati namin sinasabi sa kanila ingat lang kayo parati,” said Palou.

All the clubs and the rest of the PVL delegation yesterday underwent RT-PCR swab test and there will be an antigen test every 10 days.

Palou said that there will be no change court after every set and only 100 people allowed inside the venue per match.

Alyssa Valdez-led Creamline begins its title-retention campaign against newcomer Sta. Lucia to cap a heavy three-match bill at 7 p.m. at the PCV Socio-Civic & Cultural Center in Bacarra town.

Chery Tiggo, which plucked 44-year old veteran setter Tina Salak out of retirement, takes on PLDT at 1 p.m., while Perlas and Cignal HD take the floor at 4 p.m.

This will be the league’s only Saturday matchday in the compressed calendar since it will serve as rest days in the following weeks.

Four more clubs will make their debuts the following day (Sunday), as PetroGazz plays Black Mamba-Army at 3 p.m., while BaliPure squares off with Choco Mucho at 6 p.m. to cap the opening weekend.