WITH the pool format, the Premier Volleyball League is looking forward for an intense and exciting staging of the Open Conference which unwraps March 16 at the Paco Arena.

Debuting F2 Logistics was drawn in Group A along with back-to-back title-seeking Chery Tiggo, Choco Mucho, Army, and Cignal.

Aching to regain the championship it lost last year, Creamline heads Pool B which includes PetroGazz, PLDT and BaliPure.

The groupings were drawn in a serpent-type format based on the final ranking of the previous tournament in the Ilocos Norte bubble last August.

The top four in Pool A after the preliminary round will join the Pool B squads in the knockout quarterfinals with the Nos. 1 and 2 teams gaining twice-to-beat incentives.

The semifinals and the finals are in their traditional best-of-three format.

From the original three-month schedule to mark the league’s second pro season, the upcoming tournament will now be a four-week grind to give way to the national women’s team’s preparation for the 31st Southeast Asian Games, with all nine clubs coming into the event all geared up for a grueling battle of power, cohesion, and style.

“We have to shorten the tournament and we made it to two pools to accommodate the national team which will train in Brazil as part of its buildup for the SEA Games,” said PVL president Ricky Palou.

“But this will be very interesting as most teams strengthened their respective rosters during the off-season,” he added.

“Looking at the player movement, it will be a very competitive, exciting conference.”

The Crossovers, who beat the Cool Smashers in three games last year, will be bannered by sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat, as well as Mylene Paat and former University of Santo Tomas standout EJ Laure.

Creamline has also kept its star-studded roster intact with Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado, Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos eager to reclaim their crown.

But the focus will be on the Cargo Movers, who now ready to bring their winning tradition to the country’s first-ever pro league.

Bannered by Majoy Baron, Kianna Dy, Aby Maraño and libero Dawn Macandili, F2 Logistics has underscored its readiness by ruling the inaugural PNVF Champions League without dropping a set late last year.