EYA Laure's long-awaited return to the PVL as Choco Mucho's biggest offseason signing will headline the curtain-raiser of the 2026 All-Filipino Conference.
Choco Mucho’s revamped lineup will be put to an early test against reigning bronze medalist Akari in the 6:30 p.m. main game on opening day, January 31, at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
READ PVL TRACKER: All offseason moves ahead of 2026 season
The matchup marks Laure’s first PVL appearance in 656 days, nearly 20 months since her last outing with now-defunct Chery Tiggo in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
Also making her return is newly crowned SEA Games beach volleyball gold medalist Sisi Rondina, the former Choco Mucho captain who stepped away from the PVL to fully commit to her golden campaign on the sands.
Setting the stage earlier in the day is a clash between two teams that took vastly different approaches during a frantic offseason: Cignal and Galeries Tower.
While most of the league underwent major shakeups, the Super Spikers kept things relatively quiet, making just one addition in Ivy Perez and one departure in Judith Abil.
Galeries Tower, on the other hand, went through a near-total reset by signing 14 new players, parting ways with 13 former mainstays, and implementing 11 coaching changes.
The Aying Esteban-led Highrisers will debut their most significant franchise acquisition in Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, who emerged as one of the biggest surprises in free agency following Petro Gazz’s leave of absence.
Big games ahead
The league has also released the schedule for the first three weeks of preliminary action on its official website.
Among the notable dates is the season opener of the retooled Nxled against Farm Fresh on February 3, also at the San Juan venue.
Another early highlight comes on February 10, when the Rebisco Clasico between Creamline and Choco Mucho takes center stage at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The full list of opening-week fixtures is available here.
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