ILAGAN — PLDT will enter the 2026 PVL on Tour wearing the tag of defending champion, but just won't have a title to defend.
The league has done away with the race for a championship in this year's edition, transforming the PVL on Tour into a six-week preseason exhibition caravan featuring nine teams instead of a standalone tournament with a winner at the end.
That means the High Speed Hitters' reign as PVL on Tour champions will quietly come to an end after they claimed their maiden PVL crown last year by sweeping now-defunct Chery Tiggo in the title game.
Rather than playing for a trophy, the nine participating clubs will use the tour strictly as preparation for the new season, with each match treated as a standalone exhibition contest.
To keep every match competitive despite the absence of an overall champion, the winning team in each exhibition will receive P100,000, while the losing side will still earn P50,000.
The revised setup also explains the sweeping rule changes unveiled by the league ahead of the opening leg in Ilagan City, Isabela.
The PVL barred teams from fielding players currently serving with Alas Pilipinas to ensure they remain focused on national team commitments during the course of the preseason tour.
Clubs were likewise instructed to give all available players court time, while veterans will generally be limited to a maximum of two sets unless matches go the full five-set distance.
"The PVL on Tour is our way, together with the teams, of bringing the game closer to our fans during the preseason. It allows supporters from different parts of the country to experience PVL volleyball firsthand, while giving our teams valuable opportunities to build chemistry and prepare for the season ahead," said PVL Control Committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo.
The changes underscore the league's shift in philosophy for the preseason showcase, placing player development, roster evaluation and fan engagement ahead of championship stakes.
The PVL on Tour opens Wednesday in Ilagan City before making stops in Batangas, Vigan, Polomolok, Santiago City, Lanao del Norte and another venue yet to be announced as the league continues its preseason roadshow across the country.
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