AKARI has begged off from competing in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference, two days after the league granted a similar request from PLDT.
Finalists of the ongoing Reinforced Conference, the Chargers begged off from the eight-day tournament due to ‘injuries to some of its players,' multiple sources told SPIN.ph.
READ PLDT pulls out of PVL Invitational - but not because of controversial loss
The likes of Kamille Cal, Ced Domingo and Cams Victoria were among key Chargers who dealt, or continue to deal, with injuries thus far this conference.
Creamline, Cignal and Farm Fresh will now join defending Japanese champion Kurashiki Ablaze and Thailand’s EST Cola in a reduced five-team field of the pocket tournament, which is tentatively scheduled from Sept. 4 to 12.
Contacted for comment, league officials said it was made clear during a meeting among team managers that participation in the Invitationals is 'optional.'
PLDT, the team Akari defeated in a controversy-marred knockout semifinal match in the Reinforced Conference, opted to forgo the Invitationals, saying it wants to rest its players in light of multiple injuries.
Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo, and Capital1 have also begged off, sources added.
But unlike Farm Fresh being tapped as PLDT’s replacement, the PVL has decided that the Invitationals cast will be cut down to five instead of tapping another local team to fill the spot vacated by Akari.
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