EXACTLY one decade ago, Philippine volleyball took one of its biggest and most important steps with the birth of the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
The inaugural PSL Invitational Conference's three-week run was packed with fast-paced and top-tier competition from the league's six founding teams.
And to this day, half of that meager field continues to see action in the rival Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
The Cignal HD Spikers, PLDT myDSL Speed Boosters (now High Speed Hitters), and the first-ever PSL champions TMS-Philippine Army Lady Troopers (leave of absence) are the only remaining active crop of pioneers from the maiden 2013 conference.
The other three teams in Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns, PCSO Bingo Milyonaryo Puffins, and Petron Blaze Spikers went on to reach greater heights in the PSL's latter years but are no longer active.
On July 7, 2013 at the erstwhile FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, Cignal and Petron raised the curtains on a historic day for the sport.
READ: Bernal stars as Cignal beats Petron in PSL opener
The PSL's tournament opener mainly featured sporting icons from one of the country's oldest and most formidable institutions — the University of Santo Tomas.
An esteemed UST troika in Aiza Maizo, Ge Tabaquero, and Maika Ortiz led Petron's gallant stand which ultimately fell short against Queen Tigress Venus Bernal and Cignal's offensive firepower in straight sets, 25-22, 25-17, 25-23.
Bernal's indoor volleyball return after seven years since her college days where she copped the UAAP MVP plum was nothing short of successful, as one would expect from the veteran spiker.
She registered 17 points off 14 attacks and three aces, showing no signs of rust whatsoever.
Then 26-year-old Cignal skipper Bernal was touched by the heartwarming fanfare after nearly a decade of absence from the sport.
"Masaya talaga kasi maganda ang pag-welcome ng tao. Kahit matagal ka nang 'di naglalaro, kilala ka pa rin nila," Bernal said.
Her teammates Danika Gendrauli (12 points) and Honey Royse Tubino (11 points) were equally impressive in their PSL debuts.
Three weeks later, Cignal and Petron took the second and third spots respectively in the PSL's maiden podium as the Bernal-led HD Spikers bowed down to Tina Salak's title-winning TMS-Army squad in four sets, 15-25, 18-25, 25-14, 16-25.
Bernal's volleyball comeback and PSL debut for Cignal still ended with yet another piece of silverware as she was hailed conference and Finals MVP despite hailing from the losing team.
The HD Spikers also had a near-sweep of the individual awards, courtesy of Tubino (best spiker), Arriane Argarin (best setter), Jheck Dionela (best digger), and Jennylyn Reyes (best receiver).
Now 10 years since, volleyball in the country has had its fair share of ups and downs in both domestic and international stages.
The Covid-19 pandemic, however, marked the beginning of the end of the PSL's seven-year run.
From players reluctant to usher in a pre-meditated league comeback, to political conflicts atop the local volleyball hierarchy, to teams jumping ship to the PVL, the PSL's erstwhile hiatus ultimately led to its downfall.
Standing amid a distressing period of uncertainty for the league were PSL chairman Philip Juico and president Ian Laurel, who are now at the helm of the Athletics Events and Sports Management Group of the Philippines (ACES Philippines) that is behind tilts like the Shakey's Super League.
But amid all the highs and lows, the nation's love for the sport still grows fonder and deeper than ever before.
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