PVL imports okay to seek ITCs
Club teams can now apply for international transfer certificates of their respective foreign players who will see action in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
League commissioner Tonyboy Liao confirmed the welcome development to Daily Tribune on Monday, saying that there’s no more stumbling block for their importlaced conference starting October.
“All imports that will arrive prior to October 8 can now apply for an ITC,” Liao said.
The PVL was particularly concerned with the clearance of foreign players who are national team members of their respective countries to play in the season-ending conference scheduled to start on 8
October at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The International Volleyball Federation has a so-called national team window that runs from 15 May to 15 October.
Liao said that the PVL through the Philippine National Volleyball Federation had written a request to FIVB to allow foreign players to apply for ITC despite the ongoing national team window.
“The PNVF had already written a request to FIVB concerning the clearance of foreign players to play in the PVL. (PNVF president) Tats Suzara informed us that it has already been taken care of,” said Liao, who also sits as PNVF national team chairman.
So far, two clubs have officially introduced their reinforcements through their respective social media handles.
Cignal tapped the services of American open spiker Tai Bierria while Petro Gazz recruited another American in Lindsey Vander Weide.
Bierria played for the Memphis Tigers in the US NCAA Division I from 2016 to 2018 before suiting up for the New Mexico Lobos.
The 6-foot-1 power hitter had a couple of international stints under her belt. She saw action in Finland for Polkky Kuusamo from 2020 to 2021 and just finished her season with the Clamart Volley-Ball in France.