Sports Vision president Ricky Palou admitted on Tuesday after having discussions with some of the club owners of the men’s league, saying that only a few squads have supported the notion of going professional level—Cignal, PLDT and Volleyball Never Stops (VNS) are willing to go pro while Air Force, Army, and Navy have rejected regardless of having a special guest license.  

“Right now, on Spikers Turf, we are talking to some of the teams. Parang tatlo lang gusto maging pro teams,” Palou told the Tuesday’s edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.

“Some might be worried that their cost will shoot up with long-term contracts. We are looking to sit down with the prospective team owners to talk about it,” he confessed.

Some of the teams who played in the last Spikers’ Turf season in 2019 are composed of 15 school-based squads that include Sta. Elena-NU Ball Hammers, ECO OilLa Salle Green Archers, HachiranFEU Tamaraws, and Ateneo Blue Eagles among others.

Squads from the military services also competed with the likes of Philippine Army Troopers, Go for Gold-Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard Dolphins, and Philippine Navy Sea Lions.

Out of it all, only Cignal, PLDT, IEM, VNS, and Easy Trip were the corporate-backed teams. 

As per the joint administrative order signed by the Department of Health, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Games and Amusements Board, only leagues that have obtained their professional license can only be played in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols.

On the other hand, leagues not covered by the Games and Amusements Board and Philippine Sports Commission have been permitted to play but with certain limitations in accordance with the memorandum released by the DOH. 

Palou shared that they are looking for ways to stage the league this year as it is vital for the men’s volleyball team who clinched a silver-finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

“We want to keep the momentum going for them. They won silver in the SEA Games. We are doing everything to get the men’s side back so they can remain as contenders in Southeast Asia,” Palou averred.