EIGHT club teams seek to end the 2019 season on a high note in a shorter but more exciting Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference, which begins on September 24.
The league will not implement the play-all rule this year due to the shortened schedule as it only runs until October 17 to give way to the 30th Southeast Asian Games Philippines.
There will be two groups with last All-Filipino conference runner-up Cignal headlining Pool A with Foton, PLDT and Sta. Lucia, while defending Invitational champion and recently-crowned All-Filipino titlist F2 Logistics banners Pool B with Petron, Generika-Ayala and Marinerang Pilipina.
After the first round, all teams will be shuffled for another group stage, where top two of each groups will clash in a knockout semifinals.
The Finals will also be one game for the shortened conference but PSL president Dr. Ian Laurel assured the high intensity and neck-and-neck competition in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Amelie Hotel Manila.
“Kahit maiksi yung ating Invitational conference, I’m sure these teams want to end their year by winning this crown,” said Laurel, who was accompanied by league officials Ariel Paredes and Ginio Panganiban.
Cignal, which had an amazing Cinderella run last conference was picked as one of the favorites with F2 Logistics and Petron.
HD Spikers captain Rachel Anne Daquis looks to reclaim the season-ending conference, which they ruled two years ago.
“This will be the shortest but sweetest conference for Philippine Superliga. Patapos na po yung taon natin, let’s end it with a bang,” said PSL ambassador Daquis.

Meanwhile, the league also launched the PSL Super Cup, where the women’s national volleyball team will see action against University of Tsukuba from Japan and two PSL selection teams.
The composition of the two PSL All-Star squads will be formed depending on the stats of players in the Invitational and there will be a voting system for the fans to test the national team and Japanese squad in the short tournament that runs from November 5, 7 and 9.
The Philippines will also host the second leg of Southeast Asian Grand Prix from November 4-6 at the Sta. Rosa Gym in Laguna.
The Nationals will take on SEA Games rivals Thailand and Vietnam, while Indonesia has already begged off but a PSL-selection team will join the inaugural tournament.
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